Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Thermo Fisher to buy clinical services provider Clario for up to $9.4 billion

Thermo Fisher said on Wednesday it would buy privately held data management company Clario for up to $9.4 billion, strengthening its clinical trial research business amid a strong rebound in demand in the U.S. The deal includes an upfront payment of about $8.88 billion, in addition to $125 million in January 2027 and up to $400 million of earn-out payments based on the performance of Clario's business in 2026 and 2027.

Centene raises annual outlook after surprise quarterly profit, shares rise

Centene on Wednesday raised its annual earnings forecast after reporting a third-quarter surprise profit, helped by a low tax rate, sending its shares more than 10% higher in premarket trading. The company also recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment of $6.7 billion after a quantitative analysis that resulted in a net loss of $13.50 per share in the third quarter.

Health Rounds: Severe colon disorder on the rise in younger patients

Serious cases of a disorder of the large intestine are surging among Americans younger than 50, researchers say. Analyzing data on more than 5.2 million adults hospitalized for diverticulitis from 2005 to 2020, they found that the proportion of patients under age 50 admitted with serious complications increased from 18.5% to 28.2%.

Dental implants maker Straumann's organic sales rises in third quarter

Swiss dental implant maker Straumann reported an 8.3% rise in third-quarter organic sales on Wednesday, slightly above market expectations, as growth in most Asia-Pacific markets and North America outweighed muted demand in China. Revenue climbed to 602.2 million Swiss francs ($759.3 million) in the July-September period, compared with analysts' estimate of 600.6 million Francs in a Vara consensus.

Kennedy directs CDC to study alleged harms of offshore wind farms, Bloomberg News reports

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff to probe the potential harms of offshore wind farms, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to scrutinize offshore wind development, which Trump himself has repeatedly criticized.

Millions face food aid cliff in US government shutdown standoff

Nearly 42 million people are set to lose food aid due to the second-longest U.S. government shutdown, as Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to blame each other for a weeks-long legislative stalemate. Neither party was showing signs of changing its position days before funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, is set to lapse beginning on Saturday.

Amplifon posts Q3 profit fall, confirms 2025 guidance

Italian hearing aid group Amplifon reported a 27.7% drop in its third-quarter adjusted net profit to 19.2 million euros ($22.4 million) on Wednesday. The company confirmed the 2025 guidance it had already lowered in July.

Mergers and acquisitions

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Wednesday: ** Porsche SE, Volkswagen's biggest shareholder, is considering investing in the carmaker's Everllence diesel engine division that has been put up for sale, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

In Lilly vs Novo obesity drug battle, Trump price talks grab focus

As obesity drug heavyweights Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk gear up to release results for the third quarter, investors are looking elsewhere: high-stakes price talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lilly has the edge on Danish rival Novo to weather potential U.S. price cuts on its blockbuster obesity drug Zepbound, backed by stronger trial data, closer ties to the White House and its presence in the direct-to-consumer market to boost sales.