Author: healthadmin

As Eli Lilly races to launch its flagship oral drug GLP-1 Foundayo, the Indianapolis drugmaker and at least one set of analysts are not sweating what appears to be a slower-than-expected rise compared to Novo Nordisk’s rival drug Wigovy. With the approval of Faundayo (olforglipron) on April 1 (and became widely available in the U.S. on April 9), approximately 20,000 patients are currently taking the drug to treat obesity or overweight, Ilya Yuffa, EVP and president of Lilly USA, said on a conference call with analysts on Thursday. “Although it’s still early days, we’re pretty happy with the trajectory and…

As Merck considers its survival post-Keytruda, much of it will depend on the performance of its respiratory products in a pricey acquisition designed to soften the blow from the blockbuster’s impending loss of exclusivity, expected to occur near the end of the century. When Merck released its first-quarter results on Thursday, there was good news and bad news about two growth drivers approved three months apart in 2024. Winreair, a pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) drug, continued its strong trajectory with sales of $525 million, up 12% sequentially, while Ootsweile, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drug, made a U-turn with…

Germany will become the world’s biggest exporter of plastic waste in 2025, exporting more than 810,000 tonnes abroad, according to an analysis of trade data carried out for the Guardian newspaper.The UK followed closely, according to analysis by Watershed Investigations and Basel Action Network. Exports exceeded 675,000 tonnes, the highest level in eight years, enough to fill approximately 127,000 shipping containers.Much of the waste is sent to Turkey and then Malaysia, with Indonesia also a regular destination. Studies repeatedly link these countries’ plastic recycling industries to environmental damage, illegal dumping and incineration, and labor abuses.Sedat Gündoğlu, a Turkish marine biologist…

A major new study based on decades of ocean data has found clear evidence that heat from the deep ocean is moving to Antarctica. This change poses an increasing threat to the delicate ice shelves that help stabilize ice sheets along the continent’s coasts. Researchers led by the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of California, analyzed long-term measurements collected by research vessels and robotic ocean instruments. Their findings indicate that a relatively warm body of water known as “circumpolar deep water” has expanded over the past two decades, gradually moving closer to the Antarctic continental…

New research published in journal i-Perception Our results suggest that the effect of striped clothing on body shape perception is highly dependent on the specific spacing and orientation of the lines. People often believe that vertical stripes always make you look taller and thinner, but this study shows evidence that horizontal pencil stripes can actually produce the most slimming effect. The results of this study provide practical insights into how simple geometric patterns change visual judgments of the human figure. Scientist Tzu-Yu Chen, a doctoral candidate at the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology Graduate School of Design, and…

Lindsay Deng pushes a red shopping cart filled with miniature bottles of shampoo, lotion, and cosmetics into the travel aisle of her local Target. Preparing for a trip to Texas, the 24-year-old Northwestern University student scans shelves for TSA-compliant versions of products recommended by social media influencers.”I only look at ingredients that are tailored to my skin type. I feel that as long as the product is on the market and comes from a big company or a trusted brand, it shouldn’t have too many ingredients (to the point of concern),” Deng said. “I trust the manufacturer.”However, a small study…

Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).Monday’s Supreme Court hearing on the federal law governing pesticide regulation left observers largely uncertain what the court would rule in the former Monsanto Co. vs. herbicide glyphosate case, with many seeing the final ruling as too close to a decision. At the hearing, the judges asked focused questions, primarily to lawyers representing Monsanto and representatives from the Department of Justice, which is siding with Monsanto in the case. The justices pressed lawyers on a number of fronts, including asking how new science showing harms associated with pesticides should be…

In its new “Playing with the Heart” project, Merck is touting how high levels of so-called “bad cholesterol” can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. The campaign aims to educate people about low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, which can be measured through regular blood tests, and how to manage high levels. During the 2026 baseball season, the campaign will feature baseball legends, teams, and ambassadors sharing their experiences with high LDL cholesterol. Merck, along with Women’s Heart, a nonprofit organization that supports women with or at risk for heart disease, and nine professional baseball teams, will also host…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has set up an advisory group aimed at boosting “confidence in vaccines” amid growing hesitancy in the region. This advisory group meets quarterly and is comprised of academics, health care professionals, medical societies, patient organization representatives, and public health organizations. This is also part of the EMA’s vaccine rollout strategy, a broader approach to raise awareness of vaccines across Europe. According to data shared by the World Health Organization (WHO) last summer, childhood vaccination against measles, pertussis and other diseases in the WHO European Region “remains below pre-pandemic levels in 2024, leaving even more children…

Viz.ai, an artificial intelligence-powered disease detection and care coordination platform, on Thursday announced a partnership with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to help local healthcare leaders better understand and implement AI tools across their systems. A newly announced partnership will provide local health systems with practical guidance on AI adoption through educational opportunities, case studies, and other resources. “Rural hospitals are essential lifelines for their communities and require solutions that understand their unique local realities,” NRHA Chief Operating Officer Brock Slabach said in a statement. “Viz.ai has been committed to advancing timely diagnosis and coordinated care, and through this…