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.

Novo Nordisk, the maker of GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy, is currently exploring a new way to deliver weight-loss treatment that could reduce the need for weekly injections.

The Danish pharma company has partnered with Vivani Medical to evaluate an experimental long-acting GLP-1 implant (semaglutide) that could release the medication continuously for up to a year.

If successful, it could mark a significant step toward making GLP-1 drug more convenient for people living with obesity.

What Is The Semaglutide Implant?

The implant, known as NPM-139, is a miniature device developed using Vivani's proprietary NanoPortal technology. Rather than requiring patients to inject semaglutide every week, the tiny implant is placed beneath the skin and slowly releases the medication over an extended period.

According to Vivani, the goal is to provide consistent drug delivery with once- or twice-yearly dosing, with the long-term ambition of supporting treatment that could last up to a year from a single implant. However, the technology is still in development.

Adam Mendelsohn, Ph.D., President and CEO of Vivani Medical said, “The new agreement announced today supporting our semaglutide implant program in chronic weight management demonstrates Novo Nordisk's interest in evaluating our technology and its lead semaglutide application. This agreement reinforces our confidence regarding the market opportunity for our GLP-1 implants under development. We believe that our NanoPortal implants under development, including NPM-139, could address a growing segment of patients who would prefer a convenient once- or twice-yearly treatment option and the peace of mind that treatment could be stopped at any time if that became necessary.”

Also read: Wegovy Weight Loss Pill Available in UK Pharmacies From Today: All You Should Know

Why GLP-1 Implant Could Be Groundbreaking?

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed obesity treatment by helping people lose significant amounts of weight while also improving blood sugar control. However, these medications require regular injections, which can affect long-term adherence.

Research has shown that many patients discontinue GLP-1 therapy within the first year because of factors like treatment fatigue, gastrointestinal side effects, cost, and the inconvenience of ongoing injections.

An implant capable of delivering semaglutide continuously for months together could help by reducing dosing frequency and maintaining more consistent drug levels.

The Rise Of GLP-1 Therapies In Obesity Treatment

The obesity drug market is rapidly evolving. With the advent of GLP-1 medications, the number of users who have tried this therapy is at an all-time high. According to Gallup's latest National Health and Well-Being Index, 11% of U.S. adults currently use a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. In 2024, this number was just 3%.

The survey also said that 15% of adults have tried a GLP-1 medication at some point, compared to the 6% from two years ago.

With the ever-increasing demand, researchers are investigating oral GLP-1 medicines, monthly injections, combination therapies, and now long-acting implants that could reduce the number of treatments patients need each year.

While the yearly semaglutide implant is still an experimental concept, Novo Nordisk's decision to evaluate the technology highlights growing industry interest in making obesity treatment simpler and easier for patients to maintain in the long run.

Last week, biohacker and longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson shared a shocking health update with his followers. He said that he has been diagnosed with Autoimmune Gastritis (AIG), a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the stomach lining. In an X post, he said, “My stomach is eating itself.”

After his post received millions of reactions, he shared his ambitious plan to treat his autoimmune gastritis.

How Is Bryan Johnson Planning To ‘Cure’ His Autoimmune Gastritis?

One of the most unusual aspects of Bryan’s AIG treatment plan is creating a miniature version of his immune system called ‘Bryan In A Dish'. He said that scientists will collect and cryopreserve (freeze) a large sample of his immune cells for two purposes.

First, researchers plan to recreate a miniature version of Johnson's immune system in a laboratory dish. This living model would allow scientists to test experimental drugs and personalized therapies directly on his own immune cells before administering them to him, potentially reducing risks while helping identify the most promising treatment.

Second, the frozen cells could preserve cellular material that may support future targeted rejuvenation or precision medicine therapies.

While scientists have long used “disease-in-a-dish" models to study diseases and drugs, Bryan’s “Bryan in a dish” goes a step further by creating a personalized immune system model using his own preserved cells to test experimental autoimmune treatments before they are used in his body.

Also read: At 2026 NATO Summit, Trump's Neck Rash and Bruised Hand Draw Attention; White House Responds

Other steps in his plan includes:

• Mapping the immune system:

Johnson plans to sequence one million of his immune cells to identify the specific T-cells that are mistakenly attacking his stomach lining.

• Capturing the rogue immune cells:

He will undergo another stomach biopsy to collect live tissue, allowing researchers to match the harmful T-cells with the immune cell mapping data.

• Building an early warning system

Johnson intends to have blood tests every two weeks and combine the results with wearable health data to detect disease flare-ups before symptoms appear. He said that this is essential as the condition presents without any symptoms.

• Develop precision therapies

After identifying the rogue immune cells, researchers will test personalized treatments designed to stop only those harmful cells while preserving the healthy immune system.

Bryan Johnson's Autoimmune Gastritis Diagnosis

Despite years of optimizing his body, Bryan’s Johnson’s autoimmune gastritis diagnosis shocked the internet. While his strict routines, meticulous diet, and million-dollar anti-ageing protocol continue to inspire millions, they also receive equal amounts of skepticism and criticism.

Johnson recently revealed that he had struggled with persistently low iron for nearly 11 years, despite taking supplements.

He said that a detailed evaluation confirmed autoimmune gastritis, an illness that damages the acid-producing cells of the stomach. The condition can impair absorption of iron and vitamin B12 and may increase the long-term risk of gastric cancer.

He also disclosed that he has autoimmune thyroid disease, suggesting that multiple autoimmune conditions may be interconnected in his case.

Health officials in the United States are urging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in mosquitoes in Grant Park, Fulton County, Georgia, marking the region’s first confirmed detection of the season.

The discovery has prompted local health authorities to increase mosquito surveillance and control measures while reminding the public that preventing mosquito bites remains the best defense against infection.

Early Warning For West Nile Virus

The latest detection comes amid an early arrival of West Nile virus season in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 56 human cases of West Nile virus disease had been reported nationwide as of July 7, 2026, with broader virus activity detected in mosquitoes, birds or animals across multiple states.

Although no human cases have been linked to the Fulton County detection so far, finding the virus in mosquitoes serves as an important early warning. Mosquito surveillance allows public health officials to identify where the virus is circulating before people become ill.

Once infected mosquitoes are detected, authorities can increase larviciding and spraying operations, monitor mosquito populations more closely, and alert residents to reduce their risk of exposure.

Similar detections have also been reported in other parts of the country in recent days. Connecticut recently confirmed its first West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes of the year, while Texas reported its first human case of neuroinvasive West Nile virus after weeks of detecting infected mosquito samples.

Also read: Walked Through Floodwater Recently? 5 Things To Do After Reaching Home To Minimise Risk Of Infections

About West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that belongs to the flavivirus family, the same group that includes the viruses causing Dengue fever, Zika virus disease, Yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.

It is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on infected birds, which are the virus's first host. About 80% infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms. About 20% develop West Nile fever.

Its common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body and muscle aches
• Fatigue or weakness
• Joint pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Skin rash on the trunk or back
• Swollen lymph nodes

Also read: Shingles Vaccine May Help Fight Dementia, Suggest Studies

The disease could become serious in a few infected people who may develop its neuroinvasive disease. The symptoms of severe West Nile virus include most of the commons ones as well as:

• Neck stiffness
• Confusion or disorientation
• Tremors
• Loss of coordination
• Vision problems
• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Coma (rare case)

Why Health Officials Are Asking People To Stay Vigilant?

Authorities stress that there is currently no human vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for West Nile virus. Prevention, therefore, depends largely on avoiding mosquito bites and reducing mosquito breeding sites.

Officials recommend that residents:

• Use repellents containing ingredients like DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, particularly during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Remove standing water from containers, flowerpots, buckets, bird baths and clogged gutters where mosquitoes can breed.
• Ensure doors and windows have intact screens to keep mosquitoes out of homes.