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.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its treatment guidelines for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), commonly known as kala-azar, and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL).

Through this update, WHO is recommending shorter, safer and more patient-friendly treatments that could improve outcomes for thousands of patients across eastern Africa and South-East Asia.

The revised guidance marks the first major update in nearly two decades for these forms of leishmaniasis.

It introduces new treatment options, including the use of oral miltefosine in combination therapies, reducing the need for long courses of painful daily injections.

What Is PKDL?

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin condition that appears months or years after a patient recovers from visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar or black fever, is a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by Leishmania. It is spread by infected female sandflies. It attacks internal organs like the spleen and liver and is almost always fatal if left untreated.

In post-kala-azar, while patients usually feel well, they develop patches, papules or nodules on the skin that harbour the parasite. This allows sandflies to transmit the infection to others.

Early diagnosis and effective treatment of PKDL are therefore considered essential for interrupting transmission and elimination of kala-azar.

Also read: Uganda Declared Ebola-Free As Congo Outbreak Grows To 3,262 Cases, 1,437 Deaths

About The New Treatment Guidelines

WHO now recommends a 14-day regimen combining oral miltefosine with once-daily paromomycin injections for patients with primary visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Africa.

The new approach replaces older sodium stibogluconate-based regimens that required 17 days of treatment, 34 injections, which were often associated with toxicity.

The guidelines also introduce shorter treatment options for PKDL. For patients in eastern Africa and South-East Asia, WHO recommends new combination treatments that substantially shorten duration. It also allows part of the therapy to be completed at home.

Dr Daniel Ngamije Madandi, WHO Director of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, "For too long, patients suffering from leishmaniasis have endured treatments nearly as punishing as the disease itself. By recommending safer, shorter and more patient-friendly regimens, we are not just improving care; we are accelerating our fight to eliminate this devastating disease and offering renewed hope to communities across Africa and Asia."

Also read: Ebola Scare In The UK After Humanitarian Worker Monitored In London Hospital; Here's what Happened

Milestone In PKDL Treatment

The updated recommendations also revise the safety guidance for miltefosine in line with advice from the WHO Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medicinal Products and introduce allometric dosing to help optimise treatment across different body weights.

Kala-azar is one of the world's deadliest parasitic diseases after malaria. According to WHO, eastern Africa accounted for nearly 79% of global visceral leishmaniasis cases in 2024, with around half of patients being children under the age of 15.

Transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies, it causes prolonged fever, weight loss, anaemia and enlargement of the spleen and liver. If left untreated, the disease is fatal in up to 95% of cases.

Maharashtra Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a significant step towards promoting healthy eating habits in children. On Wednesday, FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced that foods and drinks high in fat, sugar, and salt should not be sold within 50 metres of school premises.

"Within school premises and up to 50 metres from the school compound, the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food items is completely banned by the FDA. It will be implemented strictly," Mundhe said.

Why Did Maharashtra FDA Ban The Sale Of HFSS Food Items?

HFSS food items could neither be sold, advertised, nor distributed free of cost within the prescribed limits around schools in Maharashtra anymore.

The recent ban covers popular junk food items like vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream.

Mundhe said the state government had issued a compliance order on July 27 to enforce food safety and nutritional standards across educational institutions.

He also said that the move would affect nearly two crore students studying in around 1.08 lakh schools in Maharashtra.

The guidelines would apply to all government, government-aided and private schools affiliated to any education board, meaning that no educational institution would be exempt from the ban.

Also read: No More 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free': After UK, Northern Ireland Restricts Promotion Of Unhealthy Foods To Tackle Obesity

He also said that canteens, midday meal kitchens, food suppliers and hostel kitchens catering to schools must obtain mandatory registration and licenses under food safety regulations.

He added, "No organisation or institution can prepare or supply food to schools, hostels or under the midday meal scheme without registration and a valid license to operate."

He said school principals, headmasters and local authorities would play a key role in implementing the restrictions.

According to the guidelines, the move is applicable for children from 22 months of age up to students studying in Class 12.

Experts React

Also read: Nearly 1.6 Million Dozen Eggs Recalled in US Over Potential Salmonella Contamination: FDA

HealthandMe spoke to Dr Rahul Verma, Director of Paediatrics and Neonatology at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, about the impact this move would have on children's health.

Dr Verma says that rather than viewing the decision only as a ban on junk food, it should be seen as an attempt to reshape children's food environment.

He says, "When healthier choices become the default in schools, children are more likely to develop better eating habits that can continue into adulthood. Reaching over 1.08 lakh schools and nearly 2 crore students from preschool to Class 12 gives this initiative the potential to influence an entire generation at a stage when lifelong dietary preferences are still being formed."

He also said that the policy also goes beyond simply removing HFSS foods. By making FSSAI licensing mandatory for school canteens, introducing regular compliance checks, and encouraging the inclusion of nutritious foods such as fruits, pulses, and whole grains, it creates a structured system that supports healthier eating rather than relying on restrictions alone.

In an X post, Dr. Sivaranjini, a pediatrician, suggested a different approach which seems to be a much simpler way of differentiating between healthy and unhealthy foods.

She wrote, " Front-of-pack label (FOPL) warnings are the simplest and most effective way to help people make better food choices in India. A clear “High in Sugar” or “High in Salt” or "High in Fat" warning takes seconds to understand. No calculations. No nutrition knowledge. Just a simple signal that says, 'Think twice'".

The doctor says that unhealthy, processed foods are often marketed as healthy due to misleading labels and claims on their packaging.

She added, "The problem with systems like Nutri-Score or Health Star Ratings is that they average everything into one score. A product loaded with sugar can still look “healthy” because it has added protein, fiber, or vitamins."

Providing real-life examples, she informed, "A sugary breakfast cereal still gets HIGH IN SUGAR, even if fibre and vitamins are added to it. An instant noodle high in sodium still gets HIGH IN SODIUM even if protein and vitamins are added to it. A packaged fruit juice with excessive free sugars still gets HIGH IN SUGAR, though it's directly from the fruit."

Although the move is a positive step towards protecting children's health, sustained success will depend on whether healthy food remains accessible, affordable, and appealing to children. If children continue to consume highly processed foods outside school or at home, the long-term benefits may be limited.

The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the Centre's ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for adolescent girls. The court said that there is no evidence of "immediate harm" from the vaccine.

It also said that the concerning questions around its rollout, safety and scientific backing remain open for judicial scrutiny.

Delhi High Court Refuses To Stay HPV Vaccination Drive

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by gynaecologist Dr. Sujata Mittal and health entrepreneur Jitendra Chouksey, who challenged the nationwide rollout of Merck's Gardasil vaccine.

The plea states that the vaccination programme violates the constitutional rights of adolescent girls, including their rights to bodily autonomy, informed parental consent and personal liberty under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India. It also raises concerns over long-term safety, efficacy, and post-vaccination monitoring.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia rejected the plea for an interim stay.

The Bench observed, "There may not be long-term benefit (of HPV vaccination) but there is no immediate harm."

It added that the safety concerns related to the vaccine would be examined during the course of the proceedings.

Also read: Delhi High Court Questions Govt, ICMR Over HPV Vaccine Rollout, Issues Notice

Centre Defends HPV Vaccination Programme

Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told Delhi HC that over 55 crore people worldwide have received HPV vaccines across nearly 160 countries.

He also informed the Bench that more than 55 lakh doses have been administered in India so far and only around 120 recipients reported minor side effects like nausea or headache.

"The government is taking appropriate and adequate measures while administering the vaccination," Sharma said, arguing that there was no scientific basis to drop the programme.

The High Court directed the Centre, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) to file detailed replies explaining the scientific and regulatory justification for introducing the vaccine.

Also read: India Vaccinates Over 5.2 Million Girls Against HPV To Fight Cervical Cancer

What Does The Petition Allege?

Apart from arguing that the programme violates the bodily autonomy of adolescent girls, the petition also alleged that the vaccinations are being administered through schools and public health systems without adequate informed parental consent.

It also states that frontline health workers have been assigned with enrolment targets. This directly creates pressure on the workers who compel these girls to receive the vaccine.

The plea also includes cases of reported adverse events after vaccine administration, including that of a 14-year-old girl from Tamil Nadu.

Also read: Cervical Cancer Cases In India Drop 37% Over A Decade, Highlighting Impact Of Screening & HPV Vaccination

About The Case

The case was first heard by the Delhi High Court on July 22, when the Bench described the issue as "extremely important" and sought the Centre's response.

During the latest hearing, the court declined to halt the programme but clarified that its order should not be considered as the final endorsement of the vaccine rollout.

The court will continue hearing arguments on the programme's scientific basis, efficacy, informed consent process, and adverse event reporting.

HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses and persistent infection with high-risk strains, particularly HPV-16 and HPV-18, and is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer.

Vaccination before exposure to the virus is considered one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer and many other HPV-related cancers.

India launched its HPV vaccination campaign in February 2026, offering a free single-dose quadrivalent HPV vaccine to eligible 14-year-old girls as part of its cervical cancer prevention strategy.