* Trump was not happy, Price says* Several administration officials on defensive over travel (Recasts, adds Price, Grassley comments, Politico report on overseas travel)By Susan CornwellWASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price promised on Thursday to repay the nearly $52,000 cost of his seats on private charter flights, as expensive air travel by Trump adm

By Chris KenningCHICAGO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Illinois Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed a controversial bill into law on Thursday to expand state-funded coverage of abortions for low-income residents on Medicaid and state employees.The bill, approved by the state legislature in May, would also keep abortions legal in Illinois if the U.S. Supreme Court follows President Donald Trump's cal

ASKED IN FOX INTERVIEW IF HE IS WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TRUMP'S CONFIDENCE, PRICE SAYS HE WORKS AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENTCopyright(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.aspSource News Feeds: Reuters Health Industry BriefingID: tag:reuters.com,tag:reuters.com,2017:newsml_L2N1M92DE:767904203

By Michael ErmanNEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Makers of fast-acting opioids will have to fund voluntary training for healthcare professionals who prescribe the drugs, including education on safe prescribing practices and non-opioid alternatives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Thursday.The FDA sent letters to 74 manufacturers of immediate-release opioids, notifying them that th

(New throughout, adds price, Lilly comment, updates share price)By Bill BerkrotSept 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it approved an Eli Lilly and Co drug to treat advanced breast cancer that has progressed following prior treatment.The drug, abemaciclib, which will be sold under the brand name Verzenio, will carry a list price before any discounts or rebates of

(Updates with panelist comment, background.)By Toni ClarkeSept 28 (Reuters) - PTC Therapeutics Inc's experimental drug to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a devastating degenerative disease that mostly affects young boys, may work but the company will need to do more work to prove it, an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded on Thursday.The panel's vote reduce

By Susan CornwellWASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Tom Price said on Thursday he retains President Donald Trump's confidence, despite Trump's remark that he was "not happy" with the expensive travel habits of his health department chief, a problem area for two other top administration officials as well.Senior U.S. government officials travel frequently, but are generally expected to keep t

(Adds Canada also approves deal, updates share prices)By Diane BartzWASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories has won U.S. antitrust approval to buy Alere Inc on condition that it sell two point-of-care medical testing businesses, the Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday.Canada also announced on Thursday that it had approved the proposed transaction on similar terms.Alere's shar

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Two U.S. senators from both parties are close to finalizing a bipartisan deal to shore up the health insurance exchanges created under Obamacare, the chamber's top Democrat said on Thursday.The move, which Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said was "on the verge" of completion, would stabilize the market for individuals who buy their own insurance plans o

(Adds details on case, background on litigation)By Nate RaymondSept 28 (Reuters) - Washington state on Thursday sued OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP, becoming the latest state or local government to file a lawsuit seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for a national opioid addiction epidemic.The city of Seattle also filed a separate lawsuit against Purdue as well as units of Teva P

Sept 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it approved an Eli Lilly and Co drug to treat advanced breast cancer that has progressed following prior treatment.The drug, abemaciclib, will be sold under the brand name Verzenio and will compete with Pfizer Inc's Ibrance and Kisqali from Novartis."Verzenio provides a new targeted treatment option for certain patient

By Julie SteenhuysenCHICAGO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - A single genetic change that occurred in 2013 may explain how Zika acquired the ability to attack fetal nerve cells, causing a severe birth defect in babies whose mothers were infected while pregnant, Chinese and U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.Scientists have posited many theories about why Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that had been linked wi

Sept 28 (Reuters) - Washington state on Thursay sued OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP, becoming the latest state or local government to file a lawsuit seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for the national drug addiction epidemic. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)Copyright(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters

(Refiles to add Thursday in lead paragraph)Sept 28 (Reuters) - Amgen Inc has reached a settlement with AbbVie Inc that will delay the U.S. launch of Amgen's cheaper biosimilar version of AbbVie's cash cow, the blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira, until Jan. 31, 2023, the companies said on Thursday.Humira, known chemically as adalimumab, is by far the world's top-selling prescr

(Adds quotes from spokeswoman, background)WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said on Thursday he believed he still had President Trump's confidence, a day after the president said he was not happy with Price over reports he had used private planes for official travel."I think we've still got the confidence of the president," Price told repo

(Adds comment from HHS, paragraphs 7-8)By Susan Cornwell and Jeff MasonWASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was "not happy" with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price over reports he used expensive private charter jets to travel for government business rather than cheaper commercial flights.Asked if he would fire Price, Trump told reporters: "

(Refiles to fix story link, paragraph 10)By Susan Cornwell and Jeff MasonWASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was "not happy" with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price amid reports he used expensive private charter jets to travel for government business rather than cheaper commercial flights.Asked if he would fire Price, Trump told reporters:

(Adds details on Allergan transaction, background on legal arguments)By Jan WolfeSept 27 (Reuters) - Four U.S. senators have asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to launch an investigation into a deal drugmaker Allergan Plc struck with a Native American tribe to protect some of its patents from generic challenge, according to a letter seen by Reuters.Democrats Maggie Hassan, Sherrod Brown, Bob Cas

By Jan WolfeSept 27 (Reuters) - Four U.S. senators have asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to launch an investigation into a deal drugmaker Allergan Plc struck with a Native American tribe to protect some of its patents from generic challenge, according to a letter seen by Reuters.Democrats Maggie Hassan, Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey and Richard Blumenthal in the letter to Judiciary Committee Chairm

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will return to the healthcare legislative effort early next year and negotiate with Democrats on the issue, a day after the failure of Republicans' latest attempt to get a healthcare plan through the Senate.The Republican president, refusing to admit defeat on one of his primary promises during the 2016 presidenti