Wegovy Is Good for More Than Just Weight Loss

The obesity drug Wegovy can now claim to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues in people who are overweight or who have obesity, and also have cardiovascular disease. It’s the first weight-loss drug to carry an indication for heart benefits. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the addition … Read more

How bacteria-munching viruses could offer an alternative to antibiotics

They look like something out of nightmare, but these so-called ‘spider viruses’ could be a powerful new weapon in tackling the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophages, or phages for short, have a remarkable and currently untapped potential for viral therapies. Their name comes from the Greek for to eat – ‘phagein’ – suggesting that … Read more

Melatonin Overdoses Are Spiking in Young Kids

More adults are using melatonin to get to sleep at night. Unfortunately, that means more young children are finding their parents’ tablets and gummies and taking them by accident. A new analysis in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which is published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, finds that melatonin was … Read more

Daylight Saving Time Is the Worst

On Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m., the U.S. and about a third of the world’s other countries will set their clocks forward by one hour, which will make the sun seem to rise later in the morning and hang in the sky longer in the evening. I am not alone in dreading it. Plenty … Read more

What are mRNA vaccines and how do they work?

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for swift and safe vaccine development during public health emergencies. As detailed in the 100 Days Mission report, proactive vaccine research and development during non-crisis periods is important to help ensure we can quickly mobilise vaccines when new pathogens emerge. Our Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) at Porton Down … Read more