The US Food and Drug Administration has approved TNKase or Tenecteplase, which is a thrombolytic or clot-dissolving agent, for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in adults.

Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your brain. It can cause permanent brain damage and death. If enough brain cells die, you can also lose the abilities or body functions those cells control. They are also the most common types of stroke, with 80% of all strokes being ischemic strokes.

How is TNKase administered?

It is delivered as a single five-second intravenous bolus, which is faster than the standard of care Activase or alteplase, which is administered as an intravenous bolus followed by a 60-minute infusion. The manufacturer of TNKase, Genetech said a new 25-mg vial configuration will also be available in the coming months.

How Was TNKase approved?

The approval came at the backdrop of a study that compared TNKase to Activase in patients with acute ischemic stroke. These patients also presented with a disabling neurological deficit. Results show that TNKase was comparable to Activase in terms of efficacy and safety.

How Common Are These Strokes?

In the United States it self, it affects more than 795,000 people each year and is the leading cause of long-term disability. It is also the fifth leading cause of death. Since brain damage can happen if this progresses rapidly, one needs an immediate, fast-acting medical care.

TNKase thus provide a faster and simpler administration which can be critical for anyone. The chief medical officer and head of global product development at Genetech, Levi Garraway, MD., PhD., said, "Today's approval is a significant step forward and underscores our commitment to advancing stroke treatment options for patients."

What Are The Symptoms Of Ischemic Strokes?

Some of the most common symptoms include weakness or paralysis on one side of your face and body. You may also feel trouble speaking or have loss of speech, also known as aphasia. You may faced slurred or garbled speaking, also known as dysarthria. Other symptoms include loss of muscle control on one side of your face, or sudden worsening or loss of your senses, including vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

Other symptoms include:

• Loss of coordination or clumsiness
• Blurry vision or double vision
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neck stiffness
• Mood swings or sudden personality changes
• Confusion or agitation
• Seizures
• Memory loss (amnesia)
• Headaches which are sudden and severe
• Passing out or fainting
• Coma

Are There Any Warning Signs?

While these are symptoms one has who is prone to this condition. However, often, many may confuse it with other illnesses. It is best to keep an eye out for warning signs. These could be looking out for yourself or your loved one. Note if there is a sudden loss of balance. Look out for sudden vision loss or changes in one or both eyes. Look for a droop on one or both sides of your face, especially when you smile. Raise both arms and see if one arm sags or drops in a way it usually does not. Note for your speech. Are you as fluent? Are you have trouble speaking? If you see any of such signs, start tracking it and talk to your healthcare provider.

After several months of a statewide crackdown on food adulteration, Maharashtra has now banned the manufacture and sale of non-dairy paneer, commonly known as analogue paneer or analogue cottage cheese.

The move follows multiple raids on fake paneer manufacturing units and the seizure of large quantities of spurious dairy products.

Earlier this week, the Chhattisgarh government also banned the sale and use of analogue paneer across the state. The Health Department announced that the product will no longer be permitted in markets, hotels, restaurants or roadside eateries. Maharashtra has now become the second Indian state to impose such a ban.

Ban on Manufacture and Sale of Analogue Paneer

The order, issued by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe in Maharashtra, prohibits the manufacture, processing, packing, storage, transportation, wholesale and retail sale, distribution, and offering for sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer across the state.

Violations can attract up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

In cases where the consumption of unsafe food results in death, the law provides for life imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.

As per the Maharashtra Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), strict legal action will also be taken against individuals or establishments selling analogue paneer as genuine dairy paneer for misleading consumers.

Why Was the Ban Imposed?

The decision follows findings from the Maharashtra FDA's year-long enforcement and surveillance drive.

According to the regulator, routine inspections, food sampling and awareness campaigns failed to curb the sale of analogue paneer.

"The proportion of non-conforming samples remained persistently high at 35.4 per cent of the samples analysed," the FDA order stated. Between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, the FDA collected paneer and analogue paneer samples from across the state.

Further, the FDA stated that its year-long inspections found that hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food establishments were routinely using analogue paneer instead of genuine paneer without informing customers through menus, invoices or display boards.

Authorities also found that analogue paneer was often transported and sold without original packaging, mandatory labels, invoices, batch identification or traceability documents, making it difficult to identify its source and increasing risks to public health.

Analogue vs Diary Paneer

Traditional paneer is a fresh, soft, non-melting cheese commonly used in Indian cuisine. It is made by curdling milk with acidic ingredients such as lemon juice, vinegar, or citric acid, separating the curd from the whey. The curds are then drained and pressed to remove excess water.

On the other hand, analogue paneer is made using vegetable fats or oils, starches and other non-dairy ingredients instead of milk fat.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations:

• Paneer must be made from milk.
• It should not contain added starch, non-dairy fats, or synthetic ingredients.
• Analogue paneer can be sold only if it is clearly labelled as "analogue" or "imitation" and not marketed as genuine paneer.

How to Identify Fake Paneer

FSSAI and experts recommend these simple checks:

• Check the texture: Genuine paneer is firm with a fresh milky smell. Fake paneer tends to crumble or melt quickly when heated.
• Read the label: Products made with non-dairy substitutes must be labelled as "analogue" or "imitation".
• Iodine test: Boil a piece of paneer, add a few drops of iodine tincture. If it turns blue, it may indicate the presence of starch.
• Toor dal test: Boil the paneer, cool it in water, add some toor dal and leave it for 10 minutes. If the water turns light red, it may indicate adulteration.

What Are the Health Risks?

Health experts warn that adulterated paneer can pose serious health risks, especially if manufactured using unsafe ingredients.

Possible risks include:

• Food poisoning
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Allergic reactions
• Kidney damage from nephrotoxic compounds
• Liver damage due to toxin accumulation
• Exposure to chemicals such as formalin, detergents or industrial stabilizers, if used in illicit preparations

Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn has made an emotional appeal for greater investment in brain cancer research in the UK, urging the government to "give us a chance to fight for our lives." His plea prompted a response from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who invited the 25-year-old to a personal meeting.

Goodburn, who was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumors two years ago, broke down in tears during an interview on BBC Breakfast as he highlighted the struggles faced by people living with brain cancer and their families.

"Give Us a Chance to Fight"

"Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us," Goodburn said, addressing the Prime Minister directly.

He urged the government to establish a national brain cancer lead, saying patients are enduring "unbelievable and unjust" experiences.

"There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, Australia and China, that could change lives. We are not seeing them in the UK, and it is unfair and unjust," he said.

Goodburn also appealed for greater investment in research.

"Please invest and make the difference. I'm on my knees begging—not just for my own life—but for those of my best friends, those affected, and families around the country. This has to change. The suffering is unbearable."

Prime Minister Invites Goodburn to Meet

Responding to the video on TikTok, Burnham thanked Goodburn for speaking out despite his own illness, and invited him to meet.

"Archie, thank you for this. I know how hard it must have been.

"What you're doing for other people while you're going through all this yourself shows the best of us. I'd really like to meet you and hear from you directly, and I've asked my team to get in touch."

Calls for Stronger Brain Cancer Research

Since being diagnosed just over two years ago, Goodburn has become a vocal advocate for improving brain cancer research and treatment.

"One of my dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," Goodburn said during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he competed and achieved his goal of reaching the 50m breaststroke final, but narrowly missed out on a medal.

Goodburn also criticized the Rare Cancers Bill, introduced by Scott Arthur MP and enacted earlier this year, saying it does not go far enough to improve outcomes for brain cancer patients.

The legislation covers 14 rare cancers and aims to encourage research and investment into treatments. However, Goodburn argued that brain cancer, while classified as rare by diagnosis numbers, is disproportionately deadly.

"Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it's not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes. Yes, it's rare, but it's extremely deadly. This frustrates me immensely."

He further noted that the new clinical lead and research lead positions created under the law are part-time roles covering all 14 rare cancers, amounting to just 36 working days per year.

"I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer."

Brain Tumours in Young Adults

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Rakesh Patil, Consultant Medical Oncologist at AIMS Hospital, explained that brain tumours develop when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably within the brain or surrounding tissues. These tumours may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

While brain tumours are not among the most common cancers in young adults, they do occur. The exact cause remains unknown in most cases, though certain factors may increase risk, including:

• Genetic conditions
• Family history of brain tumours
• Previous exposure to radiation therapy
• Rare inherited disorders

Dr. Patil noted that many patients have no identifiable risk factors, making early diagnosis and timely treatment critical for improving outcomes.

A UK coroner's court is currently examining whether a popular weight loss medication is linked to the death of a 73-year-old woman. She developed severe abdominal pain shortly after increasing her dose of Mounjaro (tirzepatide).

The incident has highlighted the importance of recognizing warning signs that go beyond the drug's common side effects and seeking immediate medical help.

What Happened?

Caroline Savage, a resident of Wortwell in Norfolk, had been using Mounjaro through a private prescription for around four months to manage obesity.

According to evidence presented during the inquest, she had recently been advised to increase her dose from 7.5 mg to 10 mg after losing about 14 kg.

On October 18, 2024, Savage developed sudden, severe abdominal pain and was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Doctors evaluated her for pancreatitis, a known but uncommon complication of GLP-1 weight loss medications, and ruled out an abdominal aortic aneurysm before discharging her with pain relief.

Hours later, she collapsed at home and died despite emergency efforts. A post-mortem found the cause of death to be faecal peritonitis, a life-threatening infection caused by a perforation in the intestine.

Also read: After ‘Ozempic Face’, Experts Warn of ‘Ozempic Hair’; Why Are GLP-1 Users Facing Hair Loss?

No Proof Of Direct Cause

Medical experts told the inquest that there is currently no established evidence linking Mounjaro directly to faecal peritonitis.

However, they discussed the possibility that in people with an underlying bowel condition, like diverticular disease, the medication's gastrointestinal effects could theoretically increase pressure within the intestine and contribute to a perforation.

Savage, although, had not been diagnosed with diverticular disease.

The coroner has not reached a final conclusion, and the inquest has been adjourned pending a narrative verdict later this month.

Also read: Using Compounded GLP-1 Drugs? Here's What Doctors Want You to Know

Family's Concerns Over Hospital Assessment

Representing the family, barrister Jasmine Leng argued that Savage's symptoms may have been attributed to expected side effects of Mounjaro rather than prompting further investigations.

She also questioned whether repeated pain assessments conducted after morphine administration may have underestimated the severity of her condition.

Lawyers representing the NHS trust acknowledged that documentation "wasn't as good as it could have been" but maintained that clinicians followed appropriate assessment methods and denied medical negligence.

Also read: Novo Nordisk Sues Eli Lilly Over Weight-Loss Drug Ads: Should GLP-1 Users Be Concerned?

Mounjaro Side Effects

Mounjaro belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of medicines, which slows stomach emptying and helps reduce appetite. As a result, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort are among some of its most common side effects.

However, experts say persistent, severe or worsening abdominal pain, especially when accompanied with vomiting, fever, bloating or an inability to pass stools, should never be dismissed as common side effects.

Such symptoms can indicate serious complications, including pancreatitis, bowel obstruction or, in rare cases, intestinal perforation, all of which require urgent medical attention.

The case comes after another UK death drew focus on the safety of GLP-1 weight loss drugs.

In 2024, Scottish nurse Susan McGowan's death certificate showed prescribed tirzepatide as a contributing factor alongside pancreatitis, septic shock and multiple organ failure.

Regulators have maintained that the overall benefits of these medicines outweigh their risks when used as prescribed.