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Britain on Monday (January 10) put the biggest private health companies on high alert to deliver crucial treatments such as cancer surgery should Omicron overwhelm National Health Service hospitals in England. The United Kingdom's death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic stands at 150,154, the world's seventh worst official Covid toll after the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru. Prime minister Boris Johnson has bet on refraining from lockdowns to deal with the Omicron variant which in recent weeks has swept across the UK, albeit with death rates significantly lower than previous waves. In a sign of just how stretched the NHS could become, health secretary Sajid Javid ordered England's NHS to strike a three-month deal with private health companies to allow patients to get treatments such as cancer surgery outside. "Millions of patients have already got their tests and treatment quicker thanks to our existing deal with independent providers," said David Sloman, NHS England chief operating officer and Covid incident director.

Vectura Fertin Pharma, an affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), has announced the sale of its subsidiary Vectura Group to global electronics major Molex Asia Holdings for £298 million. Vectura, based in Chippenham, UK, will be operated by Phillips Medisize, a Molex company and a leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of pharmaceutical drug delivery, in vitro diagnostic and medtech devices. PMI, which acquired Vectura in 2021 amid strident opposition from health groups, has also announced the establishment of master service agreements to develop Vectura Fertin Pharma's inhaled therapeutics proprietary pipeline. The tobacco giant created Vectura Fertin Pharma as an autonomous unit, bringing together Vectura and Danish company Fertin Pharma, which it acquired in 2020, as part of its plan to go 'smoke-free' and switch to healthcare and wellness products. PMI, which fought off private equity firm Carlyle Group for the roughly 1-billion-pound buyout of Vectura, would receive an upfront cash consideration of £150 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and potential deferred payments of up to £148 million.

Consumer healthcare group Haleon on Thursday announced that it has entered into a binding agreement for the sale of the ChapStick brand to Suave Brands Company, a company owned by American private equity firm Yellow Wood Partners. The British consumer healthcare company has agreed to sell its lip balm brand to Suave for about $430 million in cash and a minority interest in the buyer, valued at around $80 million. Haleon, which was spun off from the GSK Group in July 2022, said that cash proceeds from the sale would be used to pay down debt. ChapStick generated £112 million ($142.5 million) in revenue in 2023, said Haleon, adding that the sale is likely to close in the second quarter of 2024. Brian McNamara, Chief Executive Officer, Haleon, said: "Today's announcement is consistent with Haleon being proactive in managing our portfolio, and being rigorous and disciplined where there are opportunities for divestment. "While ChapStick is a great brand, much loved by consumers around the world, it is not a core focus for Haleon.