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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.
"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.
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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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide), typically used to control Type 2 diabetes, to also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, the American drug maker said.
Mounjaro is already approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar in adults and children aged 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes. It targets the GLP-1 protein and is also used for weight loss. In the US, the obesity version is sold under the brand name Zepbound.
The FDA approved Mounjaro to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including:
Also read: UK Woman Dies After Sudden Abdominal Pain Following Increase In Her Mounjaro Dose
The approval applies to adults with Type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for these events.
“For people with Type 2 diabetes, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and Mounjaro – the number 1 most prescribed branded Type 2 diabetes medicine for adults in the US – now gives them a proven way to lower that risk, adding to the strong foundation it has already built in A1C and weight,” said Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health.
The FDA approval was based on results from a trial that showed Mounjaro outperformed Trulicity, Lilly’s older diabetes drug, in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in a large, head-to-head study.
The trial showed that Mounjaro reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 8% more than Trulicity.
It was the largest and longest tirzepatide study to date, enrolling more than 13,000 participants across 30 countries over more than four and a half years.
The most commonly reported adverse events in SURPASS-CVOT for Mounjaro were gastrointestinal-related, generally mild to moderate in severity, and occurred primarily during the dose-escalation period.
Read More: GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro Tied To Over 60 Reported Deaths In Australia
“Mounjaro is the first and only GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist proven to lower heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death risk in adults with Type 2 diabetes at high risk for these events – in addition to its established A1C and weight loss benefits,” according to Lilly.
However, Danish rival Novo Nordisk secured FDA approval for its weight-loss drug Wegovy to lower heart risks in 2024 in overweight or obese adults without diabetes.
In 2025, the FDA also approved its older diabetes drug, Rybelsus, to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in diabetic patients.
Mounjaro is a brand name for tirzepatide, an injectable weekly treatment first approved by the US FDA for the control of Type 2 diabetes.
Unlike older weight-loss drugs that act on metabolism or suppress appetite as their primary mechanism, Mounjaro acts on two key hormones: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). These control the release of insulin and sensations of fullness.
By mimicking their action, Mounjaro decreases hunger and enhances blood sugar control — two key obstacles in successful weight maintenance.
How Does Mounjaro Work?
The key to Mounjaro’s success is tirzepatide, a dual-acting peptide that acts on receptors in the brain and stomach. When taken, it sets in motion a chain reaction of signals that tell the brain that you are full, helping reduce cravings and overeating.
Mounjaro also makes the body more responsive to insulin. In people with obesity, insulin resistance is frequent and can make weight loss more difficult. By enhancing insulin action, Mounjaro helps the body better control blood sugar and store less fat. In a sense, Mounjaro doesn’t simply allow you to eat less — it allows your body to use what you eat more efficiently.
Credit: The University of Queensland
A team of Australian scientists has developed cyborg cockroaches for medical missions. Researchers from the University of Queensland fitted Giant Burrowing Cockroaches with a removable navigation system that enables them to be remotely piloted through complex terrain and rubble.
The cockroaches are equipped with cameras and miniature medical injectors to deliver supervised emergency care to people trapped in collapsed buildings or caves.
Called ‘Paraborgs’, the cyborg insects go beyond searching for survivors to actively assisting them. In the paper, published in Advanced Science, the researchers said the long-term vision is to deploy swarms of specialized cyborg insects at disaster sites, with each performing a complementary role.
“The vision is not to replace first responders, but to give them another way to see, reach and potentially help people when direct access is impossible,” said Dr Vo-Doan from the UQ Biorobotics Lab.
Director of the UNSW Medical Robotics Lab Associate Professor Thanh Nho Do said the Paraborg technology could extend the reach of emergency medicine.
“From a biomedical perspective, the opportunity is to bring treatment to a patient when the patient cannot yet be brought to treatment,” Associate Professor Do said.
“The long-term goal is targeted, human-supervised intervention in places conventional medical technologies cannot access.”
Dr Vo-Doan said the research demonstrates how cyborg technology can be adapted across different insect platforms.
“Rather than building one robot to do everything, we can harness the natural strengths of different insects and equip them for different missions,” Dr Vo-Doan said.
The larger cockroaches provide greater capacity to carry specialized rescue and medical equipment.
The cockroaches, like the team’s previous cyborg insect models, are anaesthetized during electrode and microchip fitting. They live for as long as other cockroaches once the harnesses are removed.
The team has previously demonstrated cyborg beetles capable of controlled climbing. They have shown they can remotely guide the movement of common darkling beetles using a video game controller.
The beetles are fitted with removable microchip backpacks that use electrodes to stimulate the insect's antenna or hardened forewings.
The programmable controls allow for precise directional guidance without affecting the lifespan of the beetle.
Superintendent Tim Hassiotis, Manager Natural Disaster and Humanitarian at Fire and Rescue NSW, said the technology could extend the reach of rescue teams.
“If cyborg insects can safely enter spaces we can’t, locate casualties and ultimately help deliver emergency care, they could become another valuable tool in the future of urban search and rescue,” Superintendent Hassiotis said.
Dr Vo-Doan said the longer-term vision was to deploy swarms of specialized cyborg insects, with individuals performing complementary roles.
“Some could carry cameras and environmental sensors, while others could carry specialized emergency or medical equipment,” he said.
“Hopefully, within the next 5 to 10 years, we could see cyborg insect rescue teams deployed to help people in real emergencies, provided we have the resources to accelerate the research and field testing.”
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A North Carolina teen is reportedly critically ill after being infected with a rare “brain-eating” amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, according to health officials.
The case comes barely a week after an 8-year-old Louisiana girl died after contracting the infection.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on August 27 that a teen resident had been infected with the rare amoeba, which is commonly found in freshwater. The teen is critically ill and receiving medical care.
The department said it is not releasing further information to protect the family’s privacy. The source of the infection is under investigation.
“While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the US,” North Carolina State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore said in a statement.
What Happened To The Louisiana Girl?
Eight-year-old Lillian Smart of Ruston died on August 22, just one day after her eighth birthday. She had been hospitalised since August 15 after developing the infection, which was believed to have been acquired while swimming in Lake Claiborne.
The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the case on August 19 but did not publicly identify the child.
One of the biggest challenges is the speed at which the infection progresses. According to recent CDC data cited in coverage of the Louisiana case, 173 Naegleria fowleri infections were documented in the US between 1937 and 2025, with only four known survivors. This puts the fatality rate at roughly 97%.
What Is Naegleria fowleri?
Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba naturally present in warm freshwater such as ponds, lakes and rivers. It is not found in salt water or properly maintained and chlorinated pools.
The amoeba does not cause illness if swallowed. However, it can be fatal if water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose and reaches the brain. This can happen during activities such as jumping into water, diving and water-skiing.
Symptoms Of Naegleria fowleri Infection
The infection caused by N. fowleri, also called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), starts with symptoms including:
The infection can then progress to:
These rare infections usually occur when it is hot for prolonged periods, leading to higher water temperatures and lower water levels. Naegleria fowleri grows best at higher temperatures, up to 115°F.
How To Stay Safe?
While there is no way to eliminate the amoeba from the environment, some safety measures can reduce the risk:
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