Until law, GLP-1 drugs were used to treat diabetes, obesity and even the recent evidences suggest that it could as well be used to treat chronic kidney problems. There is yet another research, published in JAMA Psychiatry on February 25, titled Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial that explores if GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide reduce alcohol consumption and cravings in adults with alcohol use disorder.

What Do Studies Say?

The research was conducted over a period of 9 weeks, where in the randomized clinical trial, the participants who were administered semaglutide, it led to reductions in some but not all measures of weekly consumptions. It also reduced weekly alcohol and craving related to placebo, and also led to a greater relative reduction in cigarettes per day.

The research also found that weekly injections of semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in weight loss drugs like Wegovy also helped reduce cravings in people with alcohol use disorder.

The lead author Christian Hendershot said that these findings will help in developing new approaches to treat alcoholism. "Two drugs currently approved to reduce alcohol consumption aren't widely used. The popularity of Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists increases the chances of broad adoption of these treatments for alcohol use disorder," said Hendershot in news release by the University of Southern California's Institute for Addiction Research, where he is the director.

The study is government-funded research and was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health.

How Was The Study Conducted?

The study was small, and took in account for only 48 adults over two months, thus experts say that it is not yet clear how safe these drugs are for people who do not need to lose weight. Though the results do add up with the evidence form animal studies on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy on how it helps manage cravings, not just for food, but also for tobacco and alcohol. Scientists are also studying these drugs on smokers, people with opioid addiction and cocaine users.

Co-author Dr Klara Klein of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who treats people with obesity and diabetes said, "This is such promising data. And we need more of it. We frequently will hear that once people start these medications that their desire to drink is very reduced, if not completely abolished."

Why Does It Work So Well Against Alcoholism?

The GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking hormones GLP-1 in the gut and brain that regulates appetite and feelings of fullness. This response is what helps one lose weight, and what helps one curb their craving for alcohol. These drugs that mimic the functioning of your brain, which is responsible to tell your body when to stop consuming, are the same hormones that tell your body about other kinds of consumptions, including alcohol. Therefore by consuming the weight loss drugs one can treat alcohol use disorder.

However, the researchers have pointed out on the limited data on the research and have suggested to continue using the three approved drugs by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, namely, Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Acamprosate to treat alcohol use disorder until large studies confirm these findings.

Nearly nine out of every 10 Indian adults have at least one abnormal blood lipid level, according to a recent nationwide study by ICMR-INDIAB.

The findings highlighted a massive looming public health crisis that could increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases across the country in the near future.

India’s Silent Cholesterol Crisis

The findings, which were reported between July 17 and July 19, 2026, reveal that dyslipidemia, an unhealthy imbalance of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, affects an alarming number of Indian adults.

Despite being preventable and treatable, the condition often remains undiagnosed because it presents with little to no symptoms until serious complications surface.

The study was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) in what is one of the country’s largest community-based metabolic health surveys, involving over 113,000 adults from different states and Union Territories.

Also read: As Sonam Wangchuk's Indefinite Fast Continues, Doctors Explain When Hunger Strike Becomes Medically Dangerous

Women And Urban Residents At Greater Risk

According to the study, women, those living in urban areas, and residents of Central India carried a disproportionately higher burden of abnormal lipid levels.

Researchers also found that dyslipidemia was significantly more common among people with prediabetes or diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

These metabolic conditions substantially increasing the risk of various cardiovascular diseases and complications.

What Is Dyslipidemia?

Dyslipidemia refers to unhealthy levels of fats circulating in the bloodstream. These include:

• High LDL (bad) cholesterol, which contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries.
• Low HDL (good) cholesterol, reducing the body’s ability to remove excess cholesterol.
• High triglycerides, another blood fat that contributes to cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis.
• Elevated total cholesterol

ICMR-INDIAB programme has already shown that lipid disorders remain one of the concerning health risks. However, the latest study highlights just how serious the problem has become, with nearly 90% of adults exhibiting at least one lipid abnormality.

Also read: US Senator & Trump's Close Ally Lindsey Graham Died Of Aortic Dissection: All About The Fatal Heart Emergency

Why Is India Facing A Cholesterol Crisis?

Factors like rapid urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, obesity and rising diabetes rates are likely contributing to the worsening burden of cholesterol.

Unlike many chronic diseases, dyslipidemia can be managed through early detection and lifestyle change. Doctors recommend the following preventive measures:

• Regular lipid profile screening, especially after age 30 or earlier for high-risk individuals.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Exercising regularly.
• Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats while limiting saturated and trans fats.
• Managing diabetes and blood pressure.
• Taking cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins when prescribed.

India has witnessed a steady rise in metabolic disorders over the past two decades, with cases of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and abnormal cholesterol increasingly surging.

Researchers warn that unless preventive measures are strengthened and strict lifestyle changes adopted, the country could face an even greater burden of heart disease and other related disorders in the future.

Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike has entered a critical stage. After 20 days of without food, Wangchuk's condition worsened significantly. The spectacle drew nationwide attention as concerns over his deteriorating health continue to grow.

The protest, which began on June 28 at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, is aimed at demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations like NEET and broader education reforms.

Wangchuk has experienced substantial weight loss ever since his hunger strike started. Doctors also warned that prolonged fasting could lead to serious complications, including organ involvement.

Sonam Wangchuk's Hospitalisation & 'Chalo Sansad' March

On July 18, Delhi Police shifted Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital following medical advice and court-directed health monitoring. The move sparked controversy, with supporters alleging that he was moved to the hospital against his wishes.

According to the hospital, he’s receiving the necessary medical care, and his vital parameters remain stable.

“Sonam Wangchuk is being given the required medical intervention at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters are stable at present; however, his blood parameters remain marginally altered, and considering the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close observation of a multidisciplinary team of experts", the hospital's spokesperson said.

Despite being hospitalised, Wangchuk has remained firm on continuing his fast. In a handwritten note that was shared on his official X handle, he urged supporters to participate in the planned "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20.

When Does Hunger Strike Become Medically Concerning?

Also read: Watch: What Really Happens To Your Body After 72 Hours Without Food?

With Wangchuk's health continuing to deteriorate, his protest has renewed public interest in the medical dangers of prolonged hunger strikes.

The deterioration of one's health after a period of prolonged fasting is a medical emergency but it is highly variable.

Dr M Wali, Principal Director, Internal Medicine, Pacific One Health, says, "The timing of health deterioration becoming a medical emergency varies on various factors. It depends on age, existing health parameters before fasting, hydration, medications, environmental conditions and most important whether the person is taking only water or electrolytes. There is no fixed timeline for vitals to deteriorate."

24-72 Hours

In the first three days, the doctor says that the body suffers from spells of hunger, dizziness, and mild drop in blood pressure.

3 to 9 Days

During this period, fluctuations in blood sugar can start. The expert says that during this time, the body relies heavily on stored fats. Weight loss, low blood pressure, slow pulse, dehydration, and electrolytes imbalance start happening too.

10-14 days

Experts say that this is the critical period when serious complications can arise, especially like kidney injury, heart rhythm abnormalities, confusion, and collapse.

According to Dr Anshu Rohtagi, Sr Consultant at Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, "After sustained and prolonged complete fasting of couple of weeks, the risk of permanent organ damage and death increases manifold although survival depends on hydration and status of nutrition. Someone refusing both food and water can deteriorate much faster - sometimes in a few days also."

Also read: How Colonialism Continues To Bear An Impact On The South Asian Health Crisis

Another expert says that during this time, certain critical symptoms are evaluated that could cause serious complications.

According to Dr Niraj Tyagi, renowned critical care specialist, "The visiting medical team looks for signs that generally prompt urgent medical evacuations. Some of them are loss of consciousness or inability to stay awake, confusion or delirium, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm, very low blood pressure causing fainting or shock, persistent low blood pressure, severe dehydration, little or no urine output, dangerous imbalance of electrolytes and kidney or other organs injury."

According to human rights experts, "Whether someone can be shifted to medical facility or treated against their wishes depends on local laws, court orders, and, most importantly, whether the person is in sound mental health to take informed decisions."

Treatment Plan

Dr. Wali explains how the treatment course looks like for someone who has been without food for weeks.

He says, "Once shifted to medical facility, treatment depends on the patient's condition and may include careful rehydration, correction of electrolytes imbalance, continuous cardiac and kidney monitoring, nutritional rehabilitation. Doctors usually monitor potassium, magnesium, and glucose closely during re-feeding."

He adds, "It is important to note that even after recovery, the person may remain medically vulnerable even if they feel well."

A new experimental vaccine targeting one of pancreatic cancer's most common genetic mutations has shown encouraging results in an early-stage clinical trial.

Strong immune responses in most participants were observed, sparking fresh hope against one of the world's deadliest cancers.

About The Study

The Phase I study, published in Cancer Discovery, examined an investigational mutant KRAS-targeted vaccine (mKRAS-VAX) in patients who had undergone surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common form of pancreatic cancer.

The trial enrolled 12 patients with resected KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer who received the vaccine alongside two immune checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab and ipilimumab, after completing standard treatment.

Researchers observed vaccine-induced T-cell responses in 91.7% of patients, with immune cells remaining detectable for up to two years in some participants.

Importantly, patients who mounted stronger immune responses also appeared to remain disease-free for longer, although the study was not designed to prove that the vaccine directly improves survival.

Also read: Broadcaster Lauren Laverne Shares 'Smoldering Myeloma' Diagnosis After Cancer Recovery

Milestone Results Show Strong Immune Response

According to the researchers, pancreatic cancer has always been difficult to treat because it suppresses immune responses.

"The significant increase in vaccine-generated T-cell responses demonstrates that the immune system can be trained to recognize KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer," the researchers said, noting that higher T-cell responses were associated with longer disease-free survival.

The researchers said that these findings support continued evaluation of KRAS-targeted vaccination strategies in larger clinical trials.

Also read: Postpartum Breast Cancer May Be Biologically More Aggressive; Here’s Why

Parallel Research Shows Potential Too

The promising study follows another recently published Phase I trial in Cancer Discovery that tested a KRAS-targeted vaccine in individuals at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

That study found the vaccine safely stimulated KRAS-specific T-cell responses in about 90% of participants, suggesting such vaccines may eventually help prevent pancreatic cancer in selected high-risk groups.

Dr. Neeha Zaidi, associate professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University and one of the corresponding authors of the prevention study, said, "Individuals at high risk due to hereditary predisposition or to the presence of a concerning pancreatic lesion detected on imaging usually undergo surveillance to monitor for changes over time."

Also read: Cancer Is Not A Death Sentence Anymore: How Early Detection & Modern Treatment Are Changing Outcomes In Tier-2 Cities

She noted that surgery remains the standard treatment when cancer or high-risk lesions are detected, but recurrence remains common, highlighting the need for preventive strategies.

Elizabeth Jaffee, another author, said, "The goal of this study was to test the safety of the vaccine and induction of durable immune responses."

She added that the clinical trial was built on existing evidence showing KRAS-targeted vaccination could prevent progression of early precancerous lesions in animal .

Importance Of KRAS

KRAS is one of the most frequently mutated cancer-driving genes in pancreatic cancer, with mutations present in roughly 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. These mutations continuously prompt cancer cells to grow and divide.

However, scientists have spent decades trying to develop therapies capable of effectively targeting the protein.

Rather than attacking the cancer directly, the new vaccine teaches the immune system to recognize mutated KRAS proteins as abnormal and launch T-cell attacks against cancer cells.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive cancers worldwide because symptoms often appear only after the disease has spread beyond the pancreas.

While experts caution that the current findings come from an early-stage study, they say the results provide promising evidence that cancer vaccines can successfully activate the immune system against pancreatic tumors.