Month: October 2013

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration should focus on fixing problems with the launch of government-run online health care insurance exchanges instead of delaying an enrollment deadline for the program, U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday. "I think we should be able to go forward. I'm more optimistic than that. I have faith in technology and while there are glitches, there are solutions as well," Pelosi, a California congresswoman, told reporters. …

By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congressional Republican leaders said on Wednesday they were committed to delaying a tax penalty provision in the health care law and would use oversight powers to hold President Barack Obama's administration "accountable" for problems with its launch. Republican leaders have complained about a lack of transparency surrounding problems with the launch of the government run health care insurance exchanges on October 1, saying that House Democrats were briefed by administration officials, but Republicans were not. …

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) – Mexico must rein in its security forces to stop them committing grave crimes against civilians, members of the United Nations Human Rights Council said on Wednesday. At a hearing in Geneva, European and some Latin American countries were the most vocal in their criticism, and in demanding that Mexico thoroughly investigate all disappearances, particularly of women and migrants. Dozens of delegations raised concerns about deadly attacks on activists and journalists. …

By Natalie Huet PARIS (Reuters) – The chief executive of Roche did not rule out a move into treatments for rare diseases on Wednesday, saying the Swiss drugmaker would go where it could address unmet medical needs, even for very small numbers of patients. There has been speculation that Roche might branch out into the lucrative area of rare or so-called orphan diseases, which affect only a small number of people, after reports it was considering bids for two U.S.-based companies, Alexion Pharmaceuticals and BioMarin Pharmaceuticals. …

By Alastair Sharp TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada's main stock index eked out a small gain in morning trade on Wednesday as strong results from the country's two biggest railways offset losses in energy and mining companies. Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd , Canada's No. 2 rail operator, surged 6.2 percent to C$143.20 after reporting a 45 percent jump in profit as freight revenue rose and operating costs fell. Canadian National Railway Co , the No. 1 operator and focus of scrutiny after one of its trains derailed and caught fire last weekend, jumped 2.7 percent to C$112. …

By Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) – GlaxoSmithKline's drug sales in China slumped 61 percent in the third quarter, hit by a bribery scandal that damaged its ability to market products in the country and pushed some sales into the hands of rivals. Chief Executive Andrew Witty said GSK's China business had suffered most where other drug options were available – as with its top-selling lung medicine Advair/Seretide, for which AstraZeneca's Symbicort is an alternative treatment. …

By Ransdell Pierson (Reuters) – Eli Lilly and Co on Wednesday reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings, helped by cost cuts and a big price increase for top-selling antidepressant Cymbalta, which begins facing generic competition in December. The Indianapolis drugmaker said it had earned $1.20 billion, or $1.11 per share, in the third quarter, compared with $1.33 billion, or $1.18 per share, a year earlier, when it took special charges for a partnership agreement. The profit handily topped the analysts’ average forecast of $1.04 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. …

By Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Americans appear to be somewhat warmer to President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, despite the troubled roll out of the government website that is essential for its success, a poll released on Wednesday found. The Gallup survey showed people "are slightly more positive now" that they were shortly before the launch of healthcare.gov, which aims to allow consumers to enroll and shop on their own for a health insurance plan. …