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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Ebola Cases Reach 1,155, Deaths Top 300 in Congo; WHO Warns of 70% Risk of Spread to South Sudan

Updated Jun 26, 2026 | 10:36 AM IST

SummaryThe WHO report said that South Sudan must continue to reinforce infection prevention and control, rapid response capacity, and cross-border surveillance.
Ebola Cases Reach 1,155, Deaths Top 300 in Congo; WHO Warns of 70% Risk of Spread to South Sudan

Credit: iStock

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worsen, with cases rising to 1,155 and deaths climbing to 304, as per the latest government data.

The figures represent the total confirmed cases as of June 24, according to a situation report which documented 37 new cases and five new deaths in the previous 24 hours. Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu remain the most affected provinces in Congo.

Experimental treatments

Also read: Ebola Outbreak: The Unique Symptoms Seen In Patients Infected With Bundibugyo

The US is now providing doses of an experimental Ebola treatment developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical for clinical trials in Congo.

The experimental therapy, known as MBP134, was developed by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical. While the US had previously kept its stockpile for potential use in exposed American citizens, it is now making doses available to support clinical research in Congo. This is the first time Washington has publicly committed stockpiled supplies of the treatment for a broader international trial.

According to the World Health Organization, researchers will test MBP134 both on its own and alongside the antiviral drug remdesivir, marketed as Veklury. Remdesivir became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic and is being evaluated to see whether it can improve outcomes when combined with the antibody treatment.

Ebola: Scientists Lack Access To Virus Samples

The ongoing outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. However, scientists racing to develop vaccines and therapies are hampered by the lack of a viable sample of the virus.

“There’s nothing like having the authentic isolate,” said Thomas Geisbert, Professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, who helped develop previous Ebola vaccines, Bloomberg reported.

“Despite so many cases, the global scientific community has not obtained a clinical sample to isolate the virus for the needed animal challenge studies,” added Jennifer Serwanga, head of immunology at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, the report said.

Ebola: WHO Warns Spread to South Sudan

Further, as per a new WHO modelling study published in The Lancet, the growing Congo Ebola outbreak, which has already spread to Uganda, has a 70 per cent chance of reaching South Sudan soon.

The study combined epidemic modelling with spillover estimation to quantify regional risks associated with the 2026 Ituri outbreak using laboratory-confirmed case data from WHO Situation Reports (33 cases as of May 18, 2026, to 598 cases as of June 8, 2026), with projections extending 12 weeks from May 18 to Aug. 10, 2026. It also integrates operational preparedness considerations relevant for neighboring countries.

The report showed that even with the intensified response within DR Congo, uncertainty remains around reported case numbers due to the low rate of contact tracing.

“Sustained control nonetheless remains the primary determinant of regional risk: importation into Uganda is already established, and South Sudan must continue to reinforce infection prevention and control, rapid response capacity, and cross-border surveillance under International Health Regulations 2005,” said researchers from the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.

The report called for:

  1. Enhanced surveillance at formal and informal points of entry to detect suspected cases early and prevent silent transmission.
  2. Strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in front-line health facilities to reduce nosocomial transmission and protect health-care workers.
  3. Train, equip, and pre-position rapid response teams for immediate deployment.

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After COVID, The US Is Turning To The Same Organization To Fight Ebola In DR Congo

Updated Jun 25, 2026 | 10:00 PM IST

SummaryThe U.S. is supplying experimental Ebola drug MBP134 for clinical trials in Congo's growing outbreak, marking a policy shift as researchers test potential treatments for the deadly Bundibugyo strain.
After COVID, The US Is Turning To The Same Organization To Fight Ebola In DR Congo

Credit: iStock

The United States is now providing doses of an experimental Ebola treatment developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical for clinical trials in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a growing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain has infected more than 1,000 people and claimed over 250 lives. The decision marks a significant shift from the U.S. government's earlier stance, which limited access to the drug to Americans considered at high risk of exposure.

Health officials are racing to find effective ways to contain the outbreak, as there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically designed for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. A small number of cases and deaths have also been reported in neighboring Uganda, raising concerns about the disease spreading further across the region.

The experimental therapy, known as MBP134, was developed by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical. While the U.S. had previously kept its stockpile for potential use in exposed American citizens, it is now making doses available to support clinical research in Congo. This is the first time Washington has publicly committed stockpiled supplies of the treatment for a broader international trial.

According to the World Health Organization, researchers will test MBP134 both on its own and alongside the antiviral drug remdesivir, marketed as Veklury. Remdesivir became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic and is being evaluated to see whether it can improve outcomes when combined with the antibody treatment.

Also Read: Nutritional Foods That Help Keep Cholesterol Under Control

Ebola Situation In Western Africa

The confirmed cases in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 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.

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.

As of June 24, Uganda had recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases, including two fatalities. The latest infection was identified on June 21, with no additional cases reported afterward. Of the confirmed infections, 15 were linked to travel from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while five resulted from local transmission. Among the nine cases with available location data, eight were detected in Kampala and one in the neighboring Wakiso District.

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Could Chemotherapy Soon Be Optional? AstraZeneca and Gilead Drugs Show Promise for Breast Cancer Patients

Updated Jun 25, 2026 | 08:00 PM IST

SummaryClinical trials showed that both Datroway, developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with Daiichi Sankyo, and Trodelvy from Gilead Sciences reduced the risk of disease progression by about 40% compared with standard chemotherapy.
Could Chemotherapy Soon Be Optional? AstraZeneca and Gilead Drugs Show Promise for Breast Cancer Patients

Credit: AI generated image

Chemotherapy is often considered the most challenging aspect of cancer treatment due to its wide range of side effects. However, new advances in targeted therapies may soon reduce the need for conventional chemotherapy for some breast cancer patients.

Two drugs developed by pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca and Gilead Sciences have shown encouraging results in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease.

Triple-negative breast cancer lacks three key receptors commonly targeted by standard breast cancer therapies, making many conventional treatments ineffective.

In recent weeks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two targeted therapies—Datroway, developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with Daiichi Sankyo, and Trodelvy from Gilead Sciences—as first-line treatment options for certain patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer.

Why These Drugs Are Better Than Chemo?

Also read: X-Men Star Tyler Mane Reveals ‘Super-Rare’ Male Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Both Datroway and Trodelvy belong to a class of medicines known as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These therapies use antibodies to identify proteins present on most triple-negative breast cancer cells and deliver a potent dose of chemotherapy directly to the tumor.

The approach is designed to minimize damage to healthy tissues compared with traditional chemotherapy, which affects rapidly dividing cells throughout the body. Clinical trials showed that both drugs reduced the risk of disease progression by about 40% compared with standard chemotherapy, Washington Post reported.

“For seven out of 10 patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who are not candidates for immunotherapy, chemotherapy has remained the only treatment option," said Arlene Brothers, Executive Director, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, in a statement.

The new drugs for the first time, will pave the way "for these patients will have a new standard of care beyond traditional chemotherapy at the outset of their treatment.”

Efficacy of Trodelvy And Datroway

Gilead's approval is based on two clinical trials that evaluated how effectively Trodelvy delayed tumor growth. When used alone, Trodelvy reduced the risk of tumor progression or death by 38% compared with chemotherapy in patients who were not eligible for immunotherapy.

Among patients eligible for immunotherapy—approximately 30% of all triple-negative breast cancer cases—a combination of Trodelvy and Merck's Keytruda reduced the risk of tumor progression or death by 35%.

“For more than twenty years, patients with mTNBC have had limited choices in first-line treatment. Building on its impact in second-line mTNBC, Trodelvy now offers patients a powerful new backbone therapy option in the first-line setting,” said Dietmar Berger, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences, in a statement.

Read More: Ozempic-Like Weight-Loss Drugs May Cut Breast Cancer Risk By A Third, Finds Research

In a separate clinical trial, AstraZeneca's Datroway reduced the risk of tumor progression or death by 43% compared with chemotherapy. The drug also extended median progression-free survival by five months.

“Datopotamab deruxtecan (brand name Datroway) is the first and only medicine to significantly prolong overall survival in the 1st-line setting compared to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who are not candidates for immunotherapy. This approval will bring a much-needed treatment option for these patients,” said Tiffany A. Traina, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Clinical Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, part of the study.

Burden Of Triple-negative Breast Cancer

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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents about 10–15% of global breast cancer cases but accounts for a disproportionately high share of mortality. In 2025, more than 48,000 Americans were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

The disease is known for its aggressive nature. On average, triple-negative breast cancer recurs or spreads within about 2½ years, compared with around five years for other forms of breast cancer. Additionally, nearly half of patients never receive a second line of treatment.

Both AstraZeneca and Gilead are now investigating their therapies in earlier stages of breast cancer.

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