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.

A Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the past seven years has become the first person to die of Ebola Bundibugyo virus in Kenya.

According to Health Minister Aden Duale, the patient fell ill about a month ago and was treated at several hospitals in the DRC before traveling to Nairobi. The patient died days after arriving in the Kenyan capital, Reuters reported.

How Did the Patient Enter Kenya?

Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Virus: American Health Worker Had 10x Higher Viral Load In Throat Than Blood

Duale said the patient boarded a flight on Saturday and underwent routine public health screening at Nairobi's main airport before being taken to a hospital by a relative.

The patient had traveled from the DRC via Uganda and was later isolated and treated at Nairobi Hospital after developing symptoms associated with viral hemorrhagic fever.

The patient died late Monday while receiving treatment.

Kenyan health authorities have placed the country on high alert and are monitoring for possible additional cases. At least 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers who cared for the patient, have been identified.

Authorities are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who traveled on the same flight. The contacts will remain under monitoring for 21 days and will be released after testing negative for the virus, Patrick Amoth, the ministry's director, said.

The patient is to be buried within 24 hours in accordance with recommended public health protocols.

What Symptoms Did the Patient Develop?

Duale confirmed that testing showed the patient was infected with the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus.

After being taken to Nairobi Hospital, the patient was transferred to an isolation facility built during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The patient developed "fever, chills, intense fatigue and weakness, painful swallowing, muscle pain and bleeding under the skin," Duale said.

"Doctors suspected a viral hemorrhagic fever based on his symptoms and travel history and collected samples for testing. The sample tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo virus," he added.

Read More: Ebola Bundibugyo Strain: All You Should Know About The Rare Virus

Ebola Situation in Congo

According to the WHO, the DRC has recorded 4,082 deaths among 8,463 cases since the emergence of the Bundibugyo species earlier this year. It is the second most deadly known outbreak of the disease.

Shortly after the DRC declared an Ebola outbreak in May, cases were also reported in Uganda, where two people died. The WHO declared Uganda free of the disease in August.

Since then, cases have continued to be reported in the DRC, while Kenya is now monitoring contacts linked to the imported case.

What Is Bundibugyo Virus Disease?

READ: Can Obeldesivir Prevent Ebola Symptoms After Exposure? Drug Trial Moves Forward As Death Toll Crosses 4,000

Bundibugyo virus disease is a rare and deadly illness that has caused outbreaks in several African countries in the past.

It is distinctly different from other known ebolaviruses like the Zaire ebolavirus or Sudan ebolavirus. The 2007 outbreak, where Bundibugyo was detected for the first time, resulted in over 100 cases and was officially declared over in early 2008.

According to the US CDC, the Bundibugyo strain is spread by contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is infected with or has died from BVD.

It is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment), or by contact with animals, such as bats and nonhuman primates, that are infected with BVD.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising (a late stage of illness).

For decades, cancer has been considered a disease of older age. But a number of cancers are increasingly being diagnosed in people under 50. According to a new international study, the rates are rising faster among younger adults than in older age groups.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) examined cancer data from England, the US and the Netherlands, identifying dramatic increases in early-onset cancer for seven cancer types in England, five in the US and four in the Netherlands.

The rise is particularly alarming in some cancer types. In England, the rate of prostate cancer among men under 50 increased from about 1 case per 100,000 in 2001 to 3.6 per 100,000 in 2023.

The rates of bowel, kidney and womb cancers also more than doubled among younger adults.

In the US, kidney cancer among people under 50 increased from 2.5 cases per 100,000 in 2000 to 5.3 per 100,000 in 2023. Bowel, uterine, and pancreatic cancers also rose by more than 50%, while breast cancer increased by about 20%.

The Netherlands also recorded significant increases in early-onset bowel, kidney, liver and cervical cancers.

Why Cancer Is Increasing Among Younger People?

Also read: H. pylori, HPV Among Five Infections Behind 1 In 8 Cancers Worldwide: Lancet

According to WCRF, several known cancer risk factors like including obesity, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and exposure to environmental pollutants, could be the drivers behind this surge. The organisation also says that around 40% of cancers are linked to modifiable risk factors.

Obesity is a major red flag as excess body fat can lead to chronic inflammation, altered hormone levels, and harmful metabolic changes that could promote cancer development over time. However, experts also say that obesity alone cannot explain the whole picture.

Other possibilities include changes in gut bacteria, exposure to certain toxic chemicals and pollutants, antibiotic use, and other factors. These areas still remain under investigation.

The findings do not mean that cancer has suddenly become common among young adults. Age remains the biggest overall risk factor for cancer, and the majority of cancers still occur after 50, with the average or median age at diagnosis in developed countries generally above 60.

But the changing pattern is important because cancers occurring in younger adults can be diagnosed later when symptoms are initially attributed to less serious conditions.

Dr Giota Mitrou, executive director of research and policy at the WCRF said, “Behind every figure is a person facing cancer earlier than they, their family and often their doctor would expect."

“While cancer is still much more common in older adults, these changing patterns among younger generations need to be treated as a serious research and cancer prevention priority,” she added.

Also read: FDA Approves Targeted Cancer Drug As First-Line Treatment For CLL That Cuts Progression Risk By 80%

Other Factors Contributing To The Surge

Better diagnostic tools and technology could also be a reason behind the rising cases. Greater awareness of cancer symptoms and people seeking medical care earlier can increase the number of cancers detected. But researchers say these factors do not fully explain the pattern.

The fact that rates are increasing for some cancers while others are falling is particularly important. For example, lung cancer rates among younger people have declined in some countries.

Researchers are now trying to understand which exposures may be increasing cancer risk decades earlier than expected.

In the UK, a major study involving around 250,000 adults is being launched to investigate factors contributing to rising bowel cancer rates among younger people.

The US is actively advancing government-funded clinical trials of ibogaine, a psychedelic drug that remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and has been linked to several dangerous health effects, including irregular heart rhythm.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now seeking public input on how early-stage clinical trials of ibogaine should be designed, including dosing, patient selection, and safety monitoring.

The move comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April, directing federal agencies to accelerate research into psychedelic drugs for serious mental health conditions.

The federal government has allocated $50 million for ibogaine research. The first government-funded trials will focus on adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research is being supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Clinical Interest In Ibogaine

Also read: FDA Links Lettuce To Cyclospora Outbreak That Infected Almost 13,000: Here's Why Mexico Disputes It

Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound derived from the iboga shrub, which primarily grows in parts of Central and West Africa. It has sparked interests of scientists and researchers as it is reported to reduce drug cravings and alleviate symptoms of withdrawal. In a nutshell, it has shown benefit in people with opioid and other substance-use disorders.

Unlike existing addiction treatments, ibogaine can produce a prolonged psychedelic experience and affects several neurological systems.

Researchers are investigating whether these effects could help alter brain circuits related to addiction and reduce substance use.

But it must be noted that plenty of this evidence comes from observational studies, open-label research, and small clinical trials. Therefore the FDA is trying to ramp up more evidence rather than introducing the drug directly into widespread medical use.

Safety Concerns Related To Ibogaine

Also read: After 488 Sickened & 65 Hospitalised In Salmonella Outbreak, FDA Issues Highest-Risk Recall For Salad Dressing

Ibogaine and its metabolite noribogaine could disrupt the heart's electrical system and prolong the QT interval, a measurement of the time taken for the heart to electrically reset between beats.

Excessive prolonged QT can trigger dangerous ventricular arrhythmias, including Torsades de Pointes, which can prove to be fatal.

Although considered rare, a 2026 review published in Addiction found that these cardiac events have occurred at therapeutic doses and even in people without known heart disease.

Ibogaine could also lead to neurological toxicity. Reuters reported that FDA officials have highlighted both dangerous heart arrhythmias and brain toxicity as risks that need to be better investigated and understood before the drug can be developed more safely.

Why US Is Accelerating Research Despite The Risks?

The FDA's recent request seeks input on dose escalation, clinical settings, cardiac and neurological monitoring, eligibility criteria, stopping rules and independent safety. A proposed starting dose for early-phase studies would not exceed 10 mg/kg.

The agency has also said that people with serious conditions that have not responded to existing treatments deserve rigorous investigation of new options.

“Patients facing serious conditions that have not responded to existing treatments deserve rigorous scientific investigation of promising new approaches,” said Michael Davis, MD, PhD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“With ibogaine, there are important scientific questions as well as serious safety concerns. We are seeking high-quality data and input that can help inform clinical research while putting patient safety first.”

Ibogaine's Schedule I classification means that under the US federal law it is considered to be most likely be used for abuse and it cannot be currently accepted for medical use.

Items under this category carry extensive restrictions on possession and research. But Schedule I classification does not mean a substance can never be studied. Rather, research of such compounds require regulatory controls and approvals.

The FDA has already allowed an early-stage study of noribogaine hydrochloride, which is a desrivative of ibogaine, for alcohol use disorder. It means that the regulator is actively seeking to study psychedelic drugs that could have medicinal potential.