FDA Has Approved A New Medication Treatment For Migraines In Adults

Updated Feb 6, 2025 | 05:09 PM IST

SummaryMany people use the terms ‘migraine’ and ‘headache’ interchangeably. This leads many people to believe that migraines are not as serious as people make them out to be, and that cannot be more wrong, migraines have a major effect on a person’s lifestyle and the new approved medication may prove to be a great relief!
(Credit-Canva)

(Credit-Canva)

Headaches are a common symptom of a stressful lifestyle, your body not feeling well and other issues. While headaches can be dealt with easily, migraines are not so easy to handle. Migraines are a type of headache that feels like severe throbbing and pulsing sensation, almost like you are hearing your own heartbeat in your brain, usually on one side of the brain. Many people believe that migraines are not that big of a deal because you just have to deal with the pain, but that is not all migraine is, some people find it very difficult to do their daily tasks as they experience dizzying spells, nausea and extreme sensitivity to light and sound! These attacks can last hours and make it difficult for people to go about their daily lives as well. While there are medications available for migraine patients, these medications need time to take effect, so you may be in a lot of pain, but there are not many quick reliefs you can have in place other than learning the symptoms of a migraine attack and taking medication before it happens. But a new approval by the FDA may change this!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Symbravo, a new medicine to treat acute migraine attacks in adults. This means adults can now use Symbravo to get relief from their migraine symptoms. The FDA's decision was based on the results of three big studies, called Phase 3 trials. These trials involved over 21,000 migraine attacks, so the FDA has a lot of information about how well Symbravo works and how safe it is. The FDA only approves medicines that have been shown to be both safe and effective through a thorough testing process.

Importance of New Treatment Option

"Migraine attacks can happen suddenly and really mess up people's lives. It's estimated that over 39 million people in the U.S. alone get migraines," said Herriot Tabuteau, M.D., CEO of Axsome Therapeutics told US News. This shows how common migraines are and how important it is to have good treatments. "Symbravo gives patients and doctors a new option that can quickly stop a migraine attack, keep it away, and let people get back to their normal activities, all with just one dose." Having a medicine that can give fast and long-lasting relief from migraine pain is a big deal for millions of people. This new treatment is a real step forward in how we treat migraines.

Symbravo Trial Results, How Was It Approved

The trials took place in 3 steps, the Momentum trial study focused on people whose migraines had moderate to severe pain. The results showed that a lot more people taking Symbravo felt pain-free two hours after taking the medicine compared to those who took a placebo which is a dummy pill. Even better, many people felt relief for up to 24 and even 48 hours after just one dose. This long-lasting relief is really important for people with migraines because it means they can get back to their normal lives without worrying about the pain coming back. The study also looked at how many people were free from their worst symptom, like sensitivity to light or sound, or nausea. Symbravo worked better than the placebo in this area too.

While the intercept trial looked at people who took Symbravo when their migraine pain was still mild. Even when the pain was just starting, Symbravo was effective. The results were similar to the MOMENTUM trial, with many people getting pain relief and relief from their worst symptoms. Treating migraines early is often better because it can stop the pain from getting really bad.

And lastly the Movement trial which was to see how safe the medication is when people take it regularly. This study followed 706 people who had at least two migraines a month. The most common side effects people experienced were sleepiness and dizziness. While these side effects are important to know about, the study showed that Symbravo is generally safe for people to use on a regular basis.

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Did Donald Trump Take Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug? What Did White House Say

Updated Jun 24, 2026 | 06:00 PM IST

SummaryEli Lilly's retatrutide is not yet FDA-approved or commercially available; it is expected to be available by the end of 2026.​​ The drug has helped people lose up to 30% of their body weight — on par with bariatric surgery.
Did Donald Trump Take Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug? What Did White House Say

Credit: AP

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have taken the world by storm. One new entrant is Eli Lilly's retatrutide, which has demonstrated bariatric surgery-level weight loss.

Retatrutide is not yet FDA-approved or commercially available; it is expected to be available by the end of 2026.

According to a media report, Eli Lilly and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have allowed one person to gain access to the drug through the company's "compassionate use" program. It is generally used by patients with serious and immediately life-threatening medical issues to get access to experimental treatments.

STAT News, citing sources, reported that a request for drug access was made in April for a 79-year-old, well-connected man, and indicated that the person could be US President Donald Trump, who turned 80 a week ago.

What Did White House Say

The White House has aggressively denied the claim.

"This application was not for the President," said, White House spokesperson Kush Desai, while blasting STAT on X..

STAT claimed that "during the Covid-19 pandemic, Trump was notably one of the first people administered an antibody treatment from Regeneron after he contracted the virus, via this same compassionate use pathway".

Further, the media outlet cited that Ranganath Muniyappa, a senior clinician at the National Institutes of Health, had requested the drug to treat a patient for refractory obesity with obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension, noting it inquired whether Trump has those conditions.

In response, Desai referred to a White House memo on Trump's most recent medical evaluation that did not contain any mention of obstructive sleep apnea or pulmonary hypertension.

Also read: President Donald Trump Remains In Excellent Health, Says White House

Did Trump take Ozempic?

Earlier this year, Trump told The New York Times that he had not taken GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic but said, "I probably should."

Notably, Trump's latest physical exam revealed the president weighed 238 pounds, a 14-pound increase from April 2025 that nearly reached the threshold of clinical obesity.

Trump's health has been under increased scrutiny as he turned 80 this year and has been frequently seen with swollen ankles and bruises on his hands.

What Is Retatrutide?

Read More: US FDA Panel Recommends First-Ever mRNA Flu Shot For Older Adults: All About The Moderna Vaccine

Retatrutide is similar to drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy that mimic the GLP-1 hormone. The drug aims to maximize weight-loss results with fewer side effects for users. If approved, it could be helpful for patients who are struggling to lose weight on the current versions of GLP-1 drugs.

Unlike Zepbound, which is a double agonist, retatrutide, mimics glucagon along with GLP-1. It thus, works like a triple agonist.

In the third phase of clinical trial, the drug helped people lose up to 30 per cent of their body weight, which is about 85 pounds. The results are on a par with bariatric surgery, which helps people shed approximately 25 to 35 per cent of their total body weight within one to two years. Doctors say that this is the largest weight loss ever witnessed in a medical trial.

Dr Shauna Levy, medical director of the Tulane Weight Loss Center, explained that the current GLP-1s are not good enough to induce weight loss in people dealing with severe obesity and those who have a BMI of 35. Bariatric surgery can provide the same, but it seems that Retatrutide will be far more effective for people living with a high BMI who are trying to achieve a healthy weight.

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Australia Reports H5 Bird Flu In Second State; Can It Spread to Humans?

Updated Jun 24, 2026 | 05:00 PM IST

SummarySouth Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas emphasized that the H5 bird flu case was detected in a migratory bird and that there is no evidence of contamination or transmission from the two previously confirmed bird flu cases in Western Australia.
Australia Reports H5 Bird Flu In Second State; Can It Spread to Humans?

Credit: iStock

Health officials in Australia have confirmed a third case of the deadly H5 bird flu in a migratory bird on Australia's southern coast, taking the total number of cases to three. The first two cases were reported in Western Australia.

The third case of avian influenza was recorded in a giant petrel found at Knights Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

According to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, the state recorded two sick birds that came into the care of a local wildlife rescue group on June 14, ABC News reported.

"Once that was drawn to the attention on June 19 to the relevant authorities in South Australia, we responded quickly and enabled and facilitated active testing of those birds for H5 bird flu," the premier said.

"This afternoon we received those results and they confirmed that one of those birds was negative and one of them was positive."

He also stressed the cases have no connection, as it involved a migratory bird.

"It's also important to emphasize that this is a migratory bird. This is not a contamination or infection that has come from WA to SA."

Further, Malinauskas noted that the volunteers who handled the birds would be given anti-viral medication if necessary.

He urged people who see unwell or dead birdlife to "avoid, record and report" via hotline 1800 675 888.

Also read: France Confirms First Ebola Case; Congo Outbreak Grows to 1,094 Cases, 277 Deaths

Malinauskas said two other sick birds found at Fowlers Bay yesterday had tested negative for the virus.

It comes after two birds were confirmed to have the disease near the town of Esperance in Western Australia.

The country's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Beth Cookson, said there was no indication it had spread from those two birds.

Genomic sequencing shows the virus in that initial bird — a brown skua — is related to an outbreak on Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

Why Australia Had Remained Bird Flu-Free

Until now, Australia was the only continent where the H5N1 strain, the highly contagious strain of H5 bird flu, had not been detected. Although the virus has circulated across Asia since the 1990s and reached Antarctica in 2024, Australia had remained unaffected.

According to Dr Michelle Wille, ARC Future Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia's unique bird migration patterns likely delayed the virus's arrival.

"There are no duck species which routinely migrate between Australia and Asia, nor are there ducks that migrate through Antarctica," Wille wrote in The Conversation.

However, evidence suggests other seabirds—including gulls, skuas and giant petrels—may have helped carry the virus over long distances across Antarctica and subantarctic regions, eventually bringing it closer to Australia, he said.

As per the latest update, Australian scientists believe that the H5 bird flu strain killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after infecting a breeding colony on the remote Heard and McDonald Islands, one of Australia's external territories in the sub-Antarctic.

Read More: Sri Lanka Dengue Outbreak Nears 50,000 Cases: Prevention Tips You Need to Know

Can Bird Flu Affect Humans?

Despite the rise in cases, Agricultural Minister Julie Collins assured the public that there is no immediate threat to human health.

"Chicken meat and eggs remain safe for consumption when properly prepared," she noted.

While human infections remain rare, they can occur through direct and unprotected contact with infected birds, animals, or contaminated environments.

Although severe human cases have historically shown a mortality rate of around 50%, sustained human-to-human transmission has not been observed.

How to Protect Yourself

Health authorities recommend the following precautions:

  • Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds and other animals whenever possible.
  • Observe wildlife from a safe distance.
  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) if handling sick or dead birds or animals is unavoidable.
  • Avoid touching surfaces contaminated with bird droppings, saliva, mucus, litter, or bedding from infected or suspected animals.
  • Do not consume raw milk or raw milk products, particularly from animals suspected or confirmed to be infected with avian influenza.
  • Report sick or dead birds to local authorities if encountered.

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France Confirms First Ebola Case; Congo Outbreak Grows to 1,094 Cases, 277 Deaths

Updated Jun 24, 2026 | 03:42 PM IST

SummaryThe positive cases of Ebola in a doctor who returned from Ebola marks the first Ebola-positive case reported outside Africa in the 2026 outbreak that has infected 1,094 people and claimed 277, to date, in Congo.
France Confirms First Ebola Case; Congo Outbreak Grows to 1,094 Cases, 277 Deaths

Credit: iStock

French health officials have confirmed the first positive Ebola case in a doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in Congo.

It is the country's first case of the virus during the current outbreak, and the first in Europe. It is also the first case outside Africa in the 2026 outbreak.

The health ministry "confirms today the identification of a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory", it said.

The patient, identified in mainland France, is being isolated and authorities are conducting contact tracing, the ministry said, adding that the risk to the general European population was low, AFP reported.

Congo Outbreak Reaches Record First-Month Total

Also read: 'Omega Block' Causing Europe Heatwave; France Worst Hit

The confirmed cases in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached the highest total ever recorded during the first month of an outbreak in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

As of June 22, confirmed Ebola cases in Congo had risen to 1,094 and deaths to 277, according to the DRC Ministry of Health. The WHO raised concerns about the rapid spread of the deadly virus and the challenges facing containment efforts.

“This is the largest number of confirmed cases in the first month of an Ebola disease outbreak in Africa,” said Dr Abdirahman Mahamud, Director, Health Emergency Alert and Response Operations at WHO, during a press briefing in Geneva.

"What is important is we need to scale up and this outbreak is moving faster than us," he told reporters after returning from Bunia last week.

Signs of Progress Amid Challenges

Read More: Teplizumab: UK NHS To Roll Out World-First Drug To Delay Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes

Mahamud also noted signs of hope, highlighting a quick increase in the number of Ebola beds to over 500 in the past fortnight and signs that community resistance and violent resistance to Ebola responders was beginning to abate.

Taking to social media platform X, Dr Tedros shared that “100 patients have recovered so far, which shows that for many, the virus can be stopped with timely health care”.

He also lauded efforts being made to “increase the number of Ebola Treatment Centres and lab and surveillance capacities, to train more health workers on clinical care and infection prevention and control, and to improve the understanding and involvement of communities”.

However, he highlighted the need to do more.

"More treatment centers, more trained health and care workers, more testing, more teams from within communities supporting communities. We need sustained and safe access to reach all affected people”.

US Supports Experimental Treatment Trials

Meanwhile, the US has provided doses of an experimental antibody drug from Mapp Biopharmaceutical for use in clinical trials to fight the widening Ebola outbreak in Congo, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said, a shift from its position of making the drug available only to Americans, Reuters reported.

While the spokesperson declined to comment on the number of doses, it said that the drug is being made available for compassionate use in Congo as well as to advance a clinical trial in the outbreak region.

There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

This marks the first time the US government has indicated it plans to directly support clinical trials of the antibody treatment known as MBP134 from San Diego-based Mapp by providing stockpiled doses.

The Mapp drug is expected to be among the first treatments to be tested in the outbreak.

Trials of the Mapp drug and two Gilead Sciences antivirals are due to begin in the coming weeks, according to the WHO and scientists involved in the testing, the report said.

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