Smokers who make the decision to quit will experience immediate health benefits, including a rapid reduction in their risk of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), according to new research published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. The study, conducted by Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, offers compelling evidence for smokers to quit, showing that it’s never too late to avoid the damaging effects of smoking on heart health.

Dr. Marcus, the senior author of the study, emphasized that A-Fib can be prevented even in individuals who have smoked for years. "The findings provide a compelling new reason to show current smokers that it’s not too late to quit, and that having smoked in the past doesn’t mean you’re ‘destined’ to develop A-Fib," Marcus explained. "Even for the current and longtime smoker, A-Fib can still be avoided."

What is Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)?

"There’s strong evidence that smoking increases the risk of A-Fib," Marcus said. "But the benefits of quitting smoking have been less certain." With this in mind, his team sought to determine whether quitting could significantly lower a person’s risk of developing A-Fib, or if the risk would remain the same.

The research team analyzed data from over 146,700 current and former smokers, tracking their smoking habits and health over a 12-year period using data from the UK Biobank database. The results were promising: former smokers had a 13% lower risk of developing A-Fib compared to current smokers, while those who quit during the study saw an 18% reduction in their risk.

"This is likely a testament to the potency of reducing atrial fibrillation risk pretty shortly after quitting," Marcus said in a statement from the American College of Cardiology.

The findings highlight the importance of quitting smoking, not only for general health but specifically for reducing the risk of serious heart conditions like A-Fib.

Tips for Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to lower the risk of A-Fib and improve overall heart health. While it can be challenging, the benefits of quitting are clear and immediate. Here are some tips to help you quit smoking successfully:

1. Choose a specific date to quit smoking and stick to it. Prepare yourself mentally and physically for this change.

2. Reach out to family, friends, or a support group to help keep you accountable. Sharing your goals with others can provide encouragement.

3. Options like nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges can help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

4. Identify situations that make you want to smoke, such as stress or social gatherings, and find healthy ways to cope with them.

5. Regular exercise can help distract you from cravings and improve your mood during the quitting process.

6. Drinking water can help flush nicotine out of your system faster, reducing cravings.

7. Activities like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises can help manage stress, a common trigger for smoking.

Quitting smoking offers immediate and significant benefits, particularly in reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation. The latest research provides smokers with more motivation to quit, showing that it's never too late to take control of their heart health.

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).

The weight loss drug competition has gotten more serious as a late-stage clinical trial compared two next generation obesity drugs and found Eli Lilly's Zepbound to produce greater result in weight loss than Novo Nordisk's much-anticipated CargiSema. The new Novo Nordisk drug was once projected to redefine the treatment landscape.

As a result, Novo Nordisk's shares have dropped by 16 per cent. However, the outcome is not just significant because of market reaction, but also because these medicines are now shaping how doctors treat obesity, a chronic disease affecting more than one billion people worldwide. The results suggest the next phase of weight-loss therapy will be decided less by hype and more by real world effectiveness.

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Zepbound Outperforms Other Weight Loss Drugs: What Did The Comparison Reveal?

In the head-to-head study, patients taking CagriSema lost an average of 23 per cent of their body weight after 84 weeks. Participants treated with tirzepatide, sold as Zepbound for obesity and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, lost 25.5 per cent.

The gap may appear small but in clinical medicine it matters. The trial’s primary goal was to prove the new Novo Nordisk therapy was at least not inferior to tirzepatide. It failed to meet that benchmark.

Earlier trials had suggested CagriSema might rival or even surpass existing GLP-1 based drugs. However, those studies did not directly compare the medicines against each other. This time the comparison was unavoidable.

Zepbound Outperforms: Why These Drugs Matter Beyond Weight Loss

Modern anti-obesity medicines do more than reduce body fat. Doctors increasingly prescribe them to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes complications, sleep apnea and fatty liver disease.

Zepbound belongs to a newer class of dual-action hormone therapies. It mimics both GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which regulate appetite, insulin response and metabolism.

CagriSema uses a different strategy. It combines semaglutide, the active ingredient behind earlier blockbuster treatments, with an experimental molecule called cagrilintide that targets hunger signals from another pathway.

Researchers hoped attacking appetite through multiple mechanisms would produce stronger results. The trial showed improvement but not enough to surpass tirzepatide.

Zepbound Outperforms Other Weight Loss Drugs: Did The Trial Design Effect The Outcome?

Novo Nordisk executives said the study’s open label design may have influenced results. Participants knew which drug they were receiving, which could lead to behavioral bias.

Doctors often see adherence improve when patients believe they are taking a proven therapy rather than an experimental one. The company suggested familiarity with tirzepatide may have worked in its favor.

Still, clinical researchers generally consider head-to-head trials the most reliable way to evaluate competing treatments. Even accounting for bias, the data indicates tirzepatide currently delivers slightly greater sustained weight reduction.

Zepbound Outperforms Other Weight Loss Drugs: What Does This Mean For Obesity Treatment Race?

The study highlights a shift happening in obesity care. The first generation of GLP-1 drugs proved weight loss medications could achieve double digit body weight reduction. Now companies are competing over incremental but clinically meaningful gains.

For patients, even a two to three percent difference can affect blood sugar control, blood pressure and long term cardiovascular risk. It can also influence insurance coverage decisions and treatment guidelines.

Novo Nordisk still plans to bring CagriSema to market and has filed for regulatory approval, with a decision expected by late 2026. The company is also studying higher doses and alternative dosing strategies to maximize effectiveness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his latest episode of Mann Ki Baat, highlighted the growing awareness of organ donations in India.

The Prime Minister lauded people who have undertaken such noble deeds.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has recorded a fourfold surge in organ transplants over the last decade. From less than five thousand in 2013, organ transplants in the country jumped to nearly 20 thousand in 2025.

“Awareness about organ donation is steadily rising in India these days. This is helping those who are in need of it. It is also strengthening medical research in the country. Many organizations and individuals are doing extraordinary work in this direction,” the PM said in the 131st episode of the monthly radio program.

The Prime Minister also paid tributes to 10-month-old Aalin Sherin Abraham, from Kerala, who lost her life in an accident but gave life to five people to become the youngest organ donor in the state.

“There is no greater sorrow for any parent than losing one’s own child. The pain of losing a very young child is deeper. Just a few days ago, we lost Aalin Sherin Abraham, a little innocent girl from Kerala. She left this world at the age of just 10 months.

PM Modi said even amidst "profound pain", Aalin's father, Arun Abraham, and mother, Sherin, decided to donate her organs.

"While on the one hand, they grieved the loss of their daughter, on the other, they were also filled with a spirit of helping others," PM Modi said.

“Aalin Sherin Abraham is no longer with us, but her name has joined the ranks of the nation's youngest organ donors,” he added.

He also mentioned the names of organ recipients -- Lakshmi Devi from Delhi, Gaurang Banerjee from West Bengal, and Ramdev Singh of Sikar, Rajasthan -- who, after receiving the transplants, got a second chance at life.

“You will come across many such inspiring examples. This proves once again that a single noble act can change the lives of countless people. I heartily commend all those who have undertaken such noble deeds,” the Prime Minister said.

Where Does India Stand In Terms Of Organ Transplants?

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has recorded an unprecedented progress in organ donation, allocation, and transplantation across the country.

As per the Health Ministry, about 18 per cent of transplants are currently being performed with the organs donated from deceased donors.

In 2025 alone, more than 1,200 families came forward to donate organs of their loved ones after death. Each donor is now also a multiorgan donor, transforming the lives of many.

Since September 2023, more than 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after death through an Aadhaar-based verification system.

Notably, India has also achieved competence in performing difficult organ transplants like the heart, lungs, and pancreas.

The country also leads the world in hand transplants and performs a greater number of hand transplants than any other country.