Drug-makers are working as quickly as possible to develop a vaccine to combat the rapidly spreading coronavirus, which has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide.

A newly approved Chinese drug for Alzheimer’s will start clinical trials in Europe and the US next year as the country’s first novel therapy for the incurable disease seeks global legitimacy.

Can a new regulation be something to celebrate? If it stands to save lives, absolutely.

You can now buy avocados at major grocery stores in the USA which have a spray-on plant-derived coating to keep them fresh.

The US Food and Drug Administration says it is investigating a small number of reports over several years of e-cigarette users experiencing seizures.

The race to meet rising demand for vegetarian meals is heating up as Nestle unveiled plans to introduce its soy-protein-based burgers across Europe and the US this year.

A Cork medical device firm will look to the American market for growth after its second revolutionary orthopaedic surgery nailing system was greenlit by US regulatory bodies.

A Cork company with an invention that accelerates fracture healing has set its sights on the US market after getting approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Facebook is so good at ‘microtargeting’ that many e-commerce start-ups barely even bother advertising anywhere else — a shift with frightening implications for companies and consumers alike. Burt Helm reports

British American Tobacco has forecast that sales of its vapour products will double to £1bn (€1.12bn) next year, as the UK parliament opened an inquiry to establish the health and economic impact of electronic cigarettes.

A new report by the Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return Initiative warns global investors that food safety remains a “very high and immediate risk” in Asia’s meat, dairy, and seafood sector.

A €200m expansion at Eli Lilly near Kinsale, Co Cork is not believed to be under threat despite the pharmaceutical company saying it is to cut 3,500 jobs worldwide as well as a number of its global facilities.

An “exciting” new study has revealed a drug that could help reduce the risk of heart attacks and cut cancer deaths.

Global pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences — which has a major presence in Cork — agreed to buy Kite Pharma in a nearly $12bn (€10bn) deal, writes Natalie Grover and Michael Erman.

Nearly half of employees at a Wisconsin technology company agreed to be voluntarily microchipped during a "chip party" at the firm's headquarters.

A run of disappointing drug trials at Roche has left analysts suggesting the view from its new 41-storey office building in Basel, Switzerland, has become more clouded, with little chance of management now upgrading its growth forecast next week, when it reports first-half earnings.

Eli Lilly’s promising diabetes drug Jardiance fell short last quarter, a sign of the major challenges ahead for its new chief executive officer after recent setbacks on other potential new treatments.

A drug described as a landmark in treating multiple sclerosis is being reviewed for use in Europe. Trials suggest that Ocrelizumab can slow damage to the brain in two forms of MS, which offers a lot of hope for the future.

Starting testosterone treatment could lead to an increased risk of serious blood clots, researchers have warned.

Unlicensed homeopathic products for teething babies could cause seizures and breathing difficulties, the regulatory authority for medicines and health products has warned.

Shares in Shire rose to its highest level in 10 months in London after the US Food and Drug Administration approved its Xiidra drops to treat dry-eye disease, the first treatment for the ailment to be approved in more than a decade.

A major British discovery is expected to lead to revolutionary bespoke treatments for patients with advanced cancer. It could enter trials within two years.

Trans fatty acids, one of the biggest contributors to Europe’s number one killer of heart disease, may be banned or labelled following an investigation by the EU.

Drug giant AstraZeneca has agreed to buy US firm ZS Pharma in a $2.7bn (€2.5bn) cash deal.

An antidepressant drug made here and commonly used by younger adults in Ireland and elsewhere may not be either as effective or as safe as originally believed.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first prescription drug designed to boost sexual desire in women, a milestone long sought by a pharmaceutical industry eager to replicate the blockbuster success of impotence drugs for men.

Dr Brian Thornes had a light bulb moment when using a bolt to fit a TV on a wall. He’s now reaping the rewards, says Trish Dromey.

Dublin-based medical devices company Mainstay Medical has taken the first steps towards testing what it hopes with be a revolutionary treatment for chronic back pain.

A popular statin should not be used because there is growing evidence of side effects, a doctor and campaigner has claimed.

The EPA wants some 800 sites to lodge millions over the remote fear that their site could be hit by a serious accident.

Malin, an Irish company set up by a number of former Elan executives to invest in privately held life science assets, plans to raise between €275m and €325m in one of Europe’s biggest biotechnology IPOs.

While the desire to develop drugs and vaccines are appealing and may help save lives, strengthening health systems in developing countries to make better use of existing tools is as important in combating diseases like ebola, writes Celine Gounder.

New health concerns about an active ingredient in a popular toothpaste have re-ignited the debate over its use in other cosmetic products.

Most hair-loss drugs currently available may stop hair loss, but do not cause hair to re-grow.

It took a Texas man five days to polish off what has been hailed as one of the most expensive drinks produced at Starbucks, a several-thousand-calorie frozen concoction that included 60 shots of espresso and was topped with whipped cream.

The Health Services Executive’s decision to ban the use of electronic cigarettes in all health service facilities should be warmly welcomed as a step in curbing what could develop into an undesirable trend in nicotine use.