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Animal research reveals metabolic differences between tirzepatide and semaglutide

New animal research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11-14 May), reveals distinct metabolic adjustments to tirzepatide and semaglutide treatment, with tirzepatide temporarily increasing energy expenditure and semaglutide initially reducing energy expenditure.

14 May 2025

Study shows cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1RAs in patients following bariatric surgery

Medications like semaglutide and liraglutide may help to reduce the risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as well as death in adults with obesity and diabetes following bariatric surgery who did not achieve sufficient weight loss and diabetes control, according to new research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain.

12 May 2025

GLP-1 drugs linked to significant BMI reduction in children with severe obesity

Children who are living with severe obesity are more likely to experience a clinically relevant change in BMI when GLP-1 agonist drugs form part of their treatment, new research being presented at year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) suggests.

12 May 2025

Tirzepatide outperforms semaglutide for weight loss in people without diabetes

A head-to-head trial found that tirzepatide led to significantly greater weight loss and waist reduction than semaglutide in adults with obesity but without diabetes. Over 72 weeks, tirzepatide helped more participants reach key weight loss milestones, with manageable side effects and strong metabolic benefits.

12 May 2025

Novel Alzheimer's therapy shows low risk of severe side effects

The Food and Drug Administration's approval in 2023 of lecanemab - a novel Alzheimer's therapy shown in clinical trials to modestly slow disease progression - was met with enthusiasm by many in the field as it represented the first medication of its kind able to influence the disease.

12 May 2025

Study reveals low rate of opioid addiction medications after overdose

Medications proven to effectively treat opioid addiction are rarely given after emergency department visits for overdose, and who gets them varies, sometimes greatly, depending on race, ethnicity or geography, University of Michigan researchers say.

12 May 2025

Probiotics show promise in supporting breast cancer patients during chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the most popular ways to treat breast cancer. Even though it has proven to be effective, it also has downsides, such as a higher risk of side effects, as it doesn't only attack the cancer cells but can also affect normal cells.

12 May 2025

Australia faces critical medicine shortages amid global supply challenges

About 400 medicines are in short supply in Australia. Of these, about 30 are categorized as critical. These are ones with a life-threatening or serious impact on patients, and with no readily available substitutes.

12 May 2025

GLP-1RAs show added protection against cancer beyond weight reduction

New research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11-14 May) and published in the journal eClinicalMedicine finds that first generation weight-loss medications like liraglutide and exenatide appear to show anti-cancer benefits beyond weight loss.

11 May 2025

Scientists link specific gene variants to post-vaccine myocarditis and pericarditis

A genome-wide association study in Sweden identified rare genetic variants near the SCAF11 and LRRC4C genes that may be linked to heart inflammation following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. The findings shed light on potential biological pathways driving vaccine-associated myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly among younger individuals.

11 May 2025

New AI tool predicts viral mutations to help future-proof COVID vaccines

A novel AI-driven method helps scientists stay ahead of viral evolution by engineering synthetic spike proteins that anticipate future SARS-CoV-2 escape mutations, offering a powerful tool to test and strengthen next-generation vaccines.

11 May 2025

GLP-1 receptor agonists improve mood and metabolic health in adults with mental illness

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can lead to significant weight loss and improve blood sugar control in adults with severe mental illness, as well as having positive effects on mood, well-being, and quality of life in those both with and without mental illness, according to a systematic review of the available evidence being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11-14 May).

11 May 2025

Researchers find 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics enter rivers every year

A global study led by McGill University estimates that 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics enter river systems annually, mostly from human use—even after wastewater treatment. The findings warn that chronic exposure poses risks to aquatic life and fuels antibiotic resistance, especially in regions with poor sanitation.

10 May 2025

Antibiotic use in infancy raises early puberty risk in girls, study finds

Girls exposed to antibiotics in the first three months of life are significantly more likely to enter puberty early, according to a large South Korean study. The risk increases with earlier exposure and a greater number of antibiotic classes, with no similar effect seen in boys.

10 May 2025

Nirsevimab slashes RSV hospitalizations in infants by 78% in real-world study

A Spanish study found that nirsevimab prophylaxis significantly reduced infant hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and severe symptoms linked to RSV and other respiratory viruses. Hospitalizations for RSV dropped by 78% following nirsevimab rollout in Madrid maternity wards.

8 May 2025

Long-acting HIV drug emerges from decades of research and advocacy

In the hunt for a remedy, when the baton is passed from dedicated academic scientists to an innovative company to trusted community advocates, outcomes for society can be especially powerful.

8 May 2025

Obicetrapib slashes LDL cholesterol by over 30% in high-risk heart patients

A large multinational trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that obicetrapib significantly lowers LDL cholesterol in high-risk cardiovascular patients. The CETP inhibitor also improved key lipid parameters with no major safety concerns, supporting its role in future combination therapies.

8 May 2025

HIV drugs found to significantly reduce Alzheimer's risk in new study

UVA Health scientists are calling for clinical trials testing the potential of HIV drugs called NRTIs to prevent Alzheimer's disease after discovering that patients taking the drugs are substantially less likely to develop the memory-robbing condition.

8 May 2025

Most deadly drug-resistant infections in poorer countries go untreated, study shows

A new modelling study reveals that only 7% of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) bacterial infections in eight LMICs receive effective antibiotic treatment. This stark undertreatment poses a major threat in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

7 May 2025

Why a major hydroxychloroquine study was retracted over statistical misuse

Researchers reanalyzed a retracted HCQ study that claimed over 16,000 COVID-19 deaths and exposed serious methodological flaws, including inappropriate use of effect sizes and lack of dose-specific analysis. The study calls for urgent reform in peer review and greater transparency in scientific publishing.

6 May 2025