Cigarettes with ultralow nicotine levels are now being called the game-changer in the fight against smoking. If you are having trouble in quitting smoking, then, it is for you, that soon the Biden White House is expected to formally propose a plan that will order cigarette nicotine levels to be reduced, reports The Washington Post. For now though, it has been a failure, as these cigarettes, also known as VLN cigarettes that stands for very low nicotine are only available in 5,100 stores in 26 states. This is a very small fraction of the overall market for cigarettes. The company that makes it, 22nd Century, is struggling not because of the low supply, but also from the advocates who have long believed slashing nicotine levels altogether.

The Advent and ideation

Nicotine is a chemical that is produced naturally from tobacco that makes the cigarette and also keeps people hooked. While it is believed that it makes people alert, and get the "hit" to keep them going, it exposes the users to harmful substances, carcinogens, and increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other illness.

Ultralow-nicotine cigarettes, like the VLN brand, contain about 95% less nicotine than the regular cigarettes. The idea is quite simple: without the addictive grip of nicotine, smokers will find it easier to quit. Research too has shown some promise. For instance, the studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that very low nicotine cigarettes reduced addiction potential significantly without having users to increase their smoking frequency. However, the problem is, why would anyone choose for a low-nicotine that does not make them feel the same way, when the high-nicotine cigarette is right next to it, making them feel the same way, with the same alertness, sold at the same price.

“It’s very hard to imagine someone actively choosing to continue to use a low-nicotine product for the same price when a high-nicotine product is right next to it,” said Eric Donny, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine nicotine researcher.

No wonder, the experiment with low nicotine product by Philip Morris' Next cigarettes in the 1980s and Vector Tobacco's Quest brand in the early 2000s, flopped.

FDA's Role in the Push

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has supported the development of such products, even allowing VLN cigarettes to be marketed as lower-risk options. However, these products remain a niche market, available in only a fraction of U.S. stores.

Recently, the Biden administration has considered a bold step—mandating a dramatic reduction in nicotine levels for all cigarettes sold in the United States. Supporters believe this move could save millions of lives, while critics, including tobacco companies, warn of potential unintended consequences.

What Could Be The Challenges?

Resistance from Big Tobacco Companies: They could argue that slashing nicotine levels could backfire. Their claim is, smokers will turn to black markets or smoke more to satisfy their cravings, which may lead to greater exposure to harmful substances.

Consumer Reluctance: History is proof to the instances of smokers being hesitant to embrace the low-nicotine products.

Political Hurdle: It may face political roadblocks, as under the Trump administration, plans to cut nicotine were shelved.

Could Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Be The Solution?

Advocates believe that ultralow-nicotine cigarettes could be a game-changer, comparing them to decaf coffee or non-alcoholic beer—products that reduce harm while offering a similar experience.

Some experts warn that a black market for traditional cigarettes could undermine these efforts. They also stress the need for safer alternatives, such as vaping products, to support smokers transitioning away from traditional cigarettes.

India is planning to launch a free nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program to strengthen women’s health and eliminate preventable cervical cancers in the country, official sources said today.

Human Papillomavirus is a group of common viruses, some types of which are transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact, and lead to cervical cancer.

The special vaccination program aims to protect adolescent girls against cervical cancer -- one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India.

The vaccine will be administered to adolescent girls aged 14, free of cost, at government health centers.

"The Government urges parents and guardians across the country to come forward and ensure that their 14-year-old daughters are vaccinated against HPV once the program is rolled out," the sources said.

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"HPV vaccination is a powerful, preventive step that can save lives. By choosing vaccination, parents can secure a healthier, cancer-free future for their daughters," they added.

HPV Vaccine: Who Can Take It, Where To Get It From

The nationwide program, based on expert recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), will target girls aged 14 years.

At 14, the HPV vaccine offers maximum preventive benefit, well before potential exposure to the virus.

"By prioritising prevention at the right age, the program is expected to provide lifelong protection and significantly reduce the future burden of cervical cancer in the country," the sources said.

Vaccination under the national program will be voluntary and free of cost.

The HPV vaccination will be conducted exclusively at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges.

The vaccine to be used is non-live and does not cause HPV infection. It is supported by more than 500 million doses administered globally since its introduction in 2006.

"India’s national program will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11. Strong global and Indian scientific evidence confirms that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered to girls in the recommended age group," the sources said.

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The new program also aligns with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, which identifies HPV vaccination as a central pillar of the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer.

More than 90 countries worldwide are implementing single-dose HPV vaccination schedules. And about 160 countries worldwide have already introduced HPV vaccination into their national immunization schedules.

"Several countries have already demonstrated substantial reductions in HPV infection, precancerous lesions, and cervical cancer incidence following widespread vaccinations," the sources said.

Cervical Cancer: A Public Health Challenge in India

Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths reported annually.

According to scientific evidence, almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV types 16 and 18.

In India, HPV types 16 and 18 together account for more than 80 percent of cervical cancer cases.

Although cervical cancer is preventable with vaccination and early screening, it continues to impose a heavy burden on women and families.

The impending vaccination program will help prevent the risk of HPV infection before it can progress to cancer.

Malaysia is seeing a significant outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) -- the world’s most infectious disease -- with cases hitting more than 3,000.

As the outbreak is being reported amid ongoing Ramadan celebrations with people flocking to markets and gathering with family and friends to break their fasts, the country’s Health Ministry has urged citizens to observe precautions and maintain respiratory health, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces.

Between February 8 and 14, the ministry reported a total of 596 new tuberculosis cases nationwide, as per a statement issued on February 21. This drove the total number of TB cases to 3,161 across the country.

“It should be emphasized that Ramadan itself is not the cause of TB transmission. Nevertheless, increased social activities and gatherings during this month generally lead to greater interaction within the community,” the statement said.

Sabah reported the highest TB cases -- 755, which is nearly 24 percent of the total number of cases. It was followed by Selangor (596), Sarawak (332), and Johor (280).

A total of 2,571 cases were reported between Jan 1 and Feb 7, according to local media outlet Malay Mail.

The Health Ministry stated that “crowded, and poorly ventilated spaces” can increase the risk of transmission, “especially if there is an individual with active TB who has not yet received treatment", it said.

Thus, it advised the “public to continue practicing consistent self-care measures, including maintaining respiratory health”. These include:

• Practicing proper cough and sneeze etiquette
• Ensuring good ventilation in enclosed spaces
• Wearing a face mask if experiencing symptoms
• Seeking medical help if experiencing a prolonged cough

What Is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that can spread when a person with active pulmonary TB coughs, speaks, or sneezes.

Common symptoms include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, often producing mucus or blood. These can also be accompanied by chest pain, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.

Although highly infectious, TB does not usually spread as quickly as influenza or COVID-19 and typically requires longer and repeated exposure.

Prolonged exposure to individuals with active TB who have not yet received treatment can increase the risk of transmission.

The risk may also depend on factors like poor ventilation and immunity levels, and the presence of comorbidities like diabetes and HIV.

TB Outbreak In Malaysia: What The Experts Say?

About 85 per cent of the currently reported cases in Malaysia involve local citizens, while only 15 per cent involve foreigners, according to data from the Health Ministry.

"TB is not a new phenomenon in Malaysia’s public health landscape, as it has existed for a long time and remains an endemic disease that requires serious attention from all parties," the country’s Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad was quoted as saying to The Straits Times.

Health experts advised people to use a mask when in crowded places, and to seek medical help if they experience any symptoms.

"People should put on face masks while travelling and seek medical treatment early if they show symptoms," Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki, professor of epidemiology and public health at Universiti Malaya, was quoted as saying.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today recommended a new framework for accelerating approvals for the development of individualized therapies for rare and ultra-rare diseases.

The Plausible Mechanism Framework, issued by the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, is the first such framework by the regulator in 25 years.

The draft guidance can help drugmakers with cutting-edge personalized treatments for patients with ultra-rare diseases to be used as a basis for FDA approval.

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The move is expected to drive innovation among drugmakers to develop life-saving treatments for patients with ultra-rare diseases, that are not only safe but also low-cost.

Importantly, with the new framework drugmakers can depend on small, well-controlled studies in cases where traditional randomized controlled trials are not possible due to small patient populations.

“President Donald Trump promised to accelerate cures for American families -- and we are delivering, especially for children with ultra-rare diseases who cannot afford to wait,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“We are cutting unnecessary red tape, aligning regulation with modern biology, and clearing a path for breakthrough treatments to reach the patients who need them most,” he added.

What Does The Framework Propose

The draft guidance focuses on genome editing and RNA-based therapies such as antisense oligonucleotides.

The therapies must target a specific genetic, cellular, or molecular abnormality.

They must also be designed to correct or modify the underlying cause of the disease. The key criteria for therapies include:

• Finding the disease-causing abnormality
• Demonstrating that the therapy targets the root cause or proximate biological pathway
• Relying on well-characterized natural history data in untreated patients
• Confirming successful target drugging or editing

“This guidance is a critical step the FDA is taking to tailor our regulatory approach to patients with ultra-rare conditions,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.

“It is our priority to remove barriers and exercise regulatory flexibility to encourage scientific advances and deliver more cures and meaningful treatments for patients suffering from rare diseases,” Makary added.

What Is A Rare Disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a rare disease as an often debilitating, chronic, or degenerative condition affecting 1 or fewer per 1,000 population.

Rare diseases lack of epidemiological data, are at high risk of misdiagnosis, and often also lack of effective treatments.

According to the WHO ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases), there are over 5,500 rare diseases. It also assigns unique identifiers (URIs) to them for better tracking.

There are estimated to be over 7,000 distinct rare diseases affecting more than 300 million people globally.

Rare Disease Day 2026

The FDA hosted Rare Disease Day, a virtual public meeting, on February 23, in global observance of Rare Disease Week.

The theme “Moving Forward. Looking Ahead. An Event for Patients" explored ways to engage and collaborate with patients and their communities to support and accelerate the development of medical products for rare diseases.

Globally the day is observed on February 28 (February 29 in case of a leap year).