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Fifty times more people could die from heat-related deaths in England and Wales by the 2070s due to climate change, a study warned. University College London (UCL) researchers found that 34,027 people could die in this period, compared to today’s baseline figure of 634, based on a 4.3C warming prediction. It comes as Britain braces for its third heatwave in just a few weeks, with temperatures set to soar above 30C across many parts of the country. Even under a more optimistic model of 1.6C of warming, the study found that at least 3,007 people could die in the 2050s and 4,592 in the 2070s. Dr Clare Heaviside, of UCL, told Sky News: “Over the next 50 years, the health impacts of a warming climate are going to be significant. “We can mitigate their severity by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and with carefully planned adaptations, but we have to start now." The UK’s 2022 summer, where the mercury hit 40.3C and 2,985 heat-related deaths were recorded, could become the “new normal” by 2050, the study warned. By the 2060s, there could be between 21 to 32 extra hot days a year, according to the study. In the worst case, there could be between 64 to 73. Dr...

The tiny, biodegradable gel sits under the skin and releases steady doses of two key medicines all week long, aiming for steadier symptom control, fewer side effects, and a much simpler routine. Early lab tests look safe and effective, and the team hopes to move into human trials soon. Weekly Injectable Breakthrough for Parkinson’s A once-a-week injection could greatly ease life for the more than eight million people who live with Parkinson’s disease by replacing the daily routine of swallowing multiple pills. Researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) have designed a long-acting shot that supplies a steady, seven-day dose of levodopa and carbidopa, the two main medicines used to control Parkinson’s symptoms. Details of their work appear in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research. Biodegradable Delivery System Cuts Pill Burden The formulation, made from biodegradable materials, is injected just under the skin or into muscle. It then releases the medication gradually for an entire week. Parkinson’s disease is the world’s second most common neurological condition, affecting more than 8.5 million people. Although no cure exists, tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement can be managed with oral drugs that often have to be taken several times a day. This frequent dosing can be hard on patients,...

- The acne vulgaris market size reached a value of USD 7.2 billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the 7MM to reach USD 10.4 billion by 2035, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.33% during 2025-2035. Acne vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, affecting a large percentage of the world's population at some stage in their lives, mostly adolescents and young adults. It is estimated to occur in 9.4% of the world's population, with prevalence up to 80-90% in teenagers and 40-50% in adults in their twenties and thirties. Aside from its physical forms, acne also causes permanent scarring and significant psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, which highly encourage individuals to acquire effective treatments. Acne's strong psychological consequence, going beyond physical discomfort, is a strong driver for market expansion. It implies that demand is greatly driven by quality of life and self-esteem, not just by medical issues. Those firms which successfully make inroads on this emotional aspect of their product planning and promotion, with a goal of "completely clear skin" or riding awareness campaigns, are ready to gain considerable market share. This also reflects a transition in consumer demands from the management of symptoms to...

NEW DELHI: India is eyeing closer collaboration with Saudi Arabia in the pharmaceuticals and ceramics industries, following talks between Indian trade minister Piyush Goyal and his Saudi counterparts earlier this week. Goyal held separate virtual meetings with Saudi Arabia’s Economy and Planning Minister Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim and Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih to discuss ways to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries. His meeting with Al-Ibrahim was focused “on enhancing our trade & investment partnership and collaborating in key sectors” such as pharmaceuticals, petroleum and ceramics, while his discussion with Al-Falih was centered on mutual growth, innovation and long-term collaboration, Goyal wrote on X. “We are confident of exciting growth prospects ahead for both nations,” he said. In 2023-24, Saudi-India trade reached nearly $43 billion, making India Saudi Arabia’s second-largest trading partner, while the Kingdom stands as New Delhi’s fifth-largest. Bilateral energy trade alone was worth $25.7 billion in 2023-24, with Saudi Arabia being the third-largest source of India’s LPG, crude and petroleum imports. In 2023, India’s investment in the Kingdom reached $4 billion, showcasing an increase of 39 percent from 2022, when it stood at about $2.39 billion. Saudi Arabia and India have been in talks to deepen their strategic partnership. When...

President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health would eventually result in fewer drugs on the market, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office said on Friday. The Trump administration's 2026 budget proposal includes deep cuts for scientific research, including $18 billion in cuts from the NIH's funding, a 40% reduction. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here. In a letter responding to a request from congressional Democrats, CBO Director Phillip Swagel said the nonpartisan agency estimates a hypothetical 10% cut in the NIH's funding of preclinical research would reduce the number of drug candidates for phase 1 clinical trials over 30 years, starting with one fewer drug in the first decade, nine in the second, and 20 in the third. "CBO estimated that a reduction in the NIH's funding of external preclinical research would ultimately decrease the number of new drugs coming to market by roughly 4.5 percent, or about 2 drugs per year," the letter said. Preclinical research is the earliest stage of drug development, so the effects of funding cuts take longer to kick in. CBO expects cuts to clinical trials, in which drugs are further along in...

A million more children completed the critical three-dose vaccination against diseases like diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to new data released by the World Health Organization. Despite the progress, drastic changes in funding, growing global conflicts, and rising vaccine misinformation threaten to further stall or even reverse progress which poses a threat. "We've hit this very stubborn glass ceiling, and breaking through that glass to protect more children against vaccine-preventable diseases is becoming more difficult," WHO's director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, Kate O'Brien, told reporters. In 2024, 89% of infants globally, about 115 million, received at least one dose of the DTP vaccine, and roughly 109 million completed all three doses of the staple shot that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, also known as whooping cough, according to the new national immunization coverage data released on Tuesday by the WHO and UNICEF. But, nearly 20 million infants missed at least one dose of DTP-containing vaccine, which includes 14.3 million "zero-dose" children who never received a single dose of any vaccine. This is 4 million more than the target for the year needed to stay on track with Immunization Agenda 2030 goals,...

Indian drugmaker Anthem Biosciences' ANTH.NS $395 million public listing was fully subscribed on the second day of bidding, as investors bet on the company's growth prospects at a time when global big pharma are turning to India to limit their reliance on China. The IPO received bids worth 26.38 billion rupees ($307 million), or 1.05 times the shares on offer as of 10:24 a.m. IST, exchange data showed on Tuesday. The shares are likely to start trading on July 21. Global drugmakers have been seeking to limit their reliance on Chinese contractors who produce drugs used in clinical trials and early-stage manufacturing, a move that is benefiting rivals in India. Anthem, which began operations in 2007 and has two manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, offers early-stage drug discovery and drug efficacy testing. It also makes active pharmaceutical ingredients, the main component of a drug, as well as dietary supplements and probiotics. The drugmaker raised $118 million from anchor investors last week, including from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Norway's Norges Bank and France's Societe Generale, as well as domestic funds such as HDFC Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential AMC. Indian firms are expected to raise $2.4 billion through public issues in July, raising hopes of a sustained...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the sale of Juul Labs' e-cigarette device and refill cartridges in tobacco and menthol flavors, after years of struggle with heightened regulatory scrutiny, the agency and company said on Thursday. Juul, which was once a major player in the e-cigarette market before suffering a backlash after its flavored pods became popular among teens, has seen its fortunes dwindle amid lawsuits and plummeting sales. The FDA's decision will offer a new lease of life to the vape maker, which came close to filing for bankruptcy following a federal ban in 2022. The FDA's 2022 ban on Juul's four varieties of tobacco and menthol-flavored pods and the e-cigarette device was stayed a month later after an appeal by the company and rescinded in 2024. Since the agency began regulating e-cigarette devices and vapes in August 2016, it has authorized 39 e-cigarette products for sale in the United States, including Altria's (MO.N), opens new tab NJOY menthol vape products, which received the nod last year. An FDA spokesperson said it had authorized five JUUL e-cigarette products after additional evidence provided by the company demonstrated that the benefits to public health outweighed the risks, namely that the products could appeal...

The United States has rejected amendments adopted in 2024 by members of the World Health Organization to its legally binding health rules aimed at improving preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19. The Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement they had transmitted on Friday the official U.S. rejection of the amendments to the International Health Regulations, which were adopted by consensus last year. The amendments introduced a new category of "pandemic emergency" for the most significant and globally threatening health crises in an effort to shore up the world's defenses against new pathogens. "Developed without adequate public input, these amendments expand the role of the WHO in public health emergencies, create additional authorities for the WHO for shaping pandemic declarations, and promote WHO's ability to facilitate 'equitable access' of health commodities," the U.S. statement said. "Terminology throughout the 2024 amendments is vague and broad, risking WHO-coordinated international responses that focus on political issues like solidarity, rather than rapid and effective actions," said the statement, jointly issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubt...

Biocon (BION.NS), opens new tab aims to launch generic copies of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in India and Canada within the next two years, a top executive told Reuters, seeking to tap into a market that is estimated to grow to $150 billion globally by the early 2030s. The push comes after Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO), opens new tab and U.S.-based rival Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab saw skyrocketing demand for their obesity drugs Wegovy and Zepbound. Biopharmaceutical company Biocon plans to submit a request for approval to India's drug regulator by the end of 2026 and potentially launch in 2027 through a partner, CEO Siddharth Mittal said in an email interview on Tuesday. The company, which also makes insulin products, expects to complete late-stage trials within the next 12 to 18 months, he added. "Biocon is actively progressing with filings for semaglutide in Canada as well as many other emerging markets," Mittal said. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo's drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, used for diabetes and weight-loss management. Indian generic drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's (REDY.NS), opens new tab and Cipla (CIPL.NS), opens new tab, have been racing to produce cheaper versions of Wegovy when semaglutide goes off patent in...