“I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

This is what ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry’s character Chandler Bing was known for. He was known for being funny. However, he had his own struggles in his personal life and those struggles were acute depression. He was treating it with ketamine infusion therapy which is legal in the US and the UK.

What is Ketamine infusion therapy?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic used to treat depression, anxiety and pain under supervised and controlled medical settings. However, it does have its side effects, which can lead to distortion of sight, sound and time. It can also produce calming and relaxing effects.

Ketamine increases a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If overdosed, it can leave users confused and agitated and can cause them to hurt themselves without even realising it. It can also lead to liver damage and bladder problems.

However, when used in moderation and under the supervision of medical doctors, it can treat depression where traditional antidepressants have failed.

Prof Rupert McShane, a University of Oxford psychiatrist who runs an NHS ketamine treatment clinic told BBC that ketamine “probably turns off the area of the brain that is involved in disappointment.”

Can Ketamine Infusion Therapy Kill Someone?

In simple terms, it cannot, be if the dosage is given in a controlled setting and as prescribed. Ketamine infusion therapy uses drugs in small doses than those used for anaesthesia. It acts faster than traditional anti-depressants, but the effects also wear off way quickly. Which is why it is important to monitor patients’ mental state for relapsing back into depression and discouraging them from overdosing on it.

There are ways of giving people ketamine. One of the ways is through “infusing”, which means to use an IV drip. However, injections, nasal sprays and capsules are also methods used to give people ketamine.

Since the dosage of ketamine used in the infusion treatment is small, it being the reason of actor Perry’s death was ruled out. The medical examiner also noted that Perry’s last ketamine infusion therapy session happened more than a week before his death, which means by the time he had died, it must have worn off.

So, What Happened To Perry?

Though Perry’s last session was more than a week before, his post-mortem showed that his blood contained a high concentration of ketamine. He had died of the “acute effects” of ketamine.

If it was not his session, then how did he get ketamine?

Prosecutors alleged that his assistant gave him at least 27 shots of ketamine in four days before his death, reported BBC.

Perry has been open about his personal struggles and this is what the doctors and dealers used against him. Martin Estrada, the US attorney for California’s Central District told the BBC that people took advantage of his condition. They charged him 165 times more than what vials of ketamine cost.

Names that have come up include Dr Salvador Plasencia, drug dealers “Ketamine Queen” aka Jasveen Sangha and Eric Fleming, and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.

Who Are These Names And What Did They Do?

Ketamine Queen or Sangha supplied drugs that led to Perry’s death. Her home was a “drug-selling emporium,” said Estrada. More than 80 vials of ketamine, and thousands of pills including methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly found in her house known as the “Sangha Stash House.”

Sangha is known to deal with high-end celebs and was a “major source of supply for ketamine to others as well as Perry,” said Estrada.

Dr Plasencia called Perry a “moron” while charging him $2,000 for vials that cost only $12. He sold Perry 20 vials of ketamine between September and October 2023, costing $55,000.

He was the one who taught Iwamasa, who had no medical knowledge to inject the drug. This is after he knew that “Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control,” as per what the investigators told the BBC.

Another dealer Fleming was told by Sangha to “delete all our messages.” While Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute drugs unlawfully, he also allegedly messaged Sangha: “Please call...Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry] only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.”

The court documents also revealed that he asked Sangha on whether the ketamine stays in your system or “is it immediately flushed out.”

Dr Pepper, Bots, Cans

The people who allegedly exploited Perry used coded language for ketamine and called it “Dr Pepper”, “bots”, or “cans.”

Selling overpriced drugs, taking advantage of Perry’s mental condition and falsifying medical records to make the drugs given to him look legitimate by Dr Plasencia is what took Perry’s life.

Iwamasa is said to have administered more than 20 shots of ketamine and three on the day Perry died. Whereas ketamine is only administered by a physician. Authorities also found that weeks before Perry’s death, Dr Plasencia allegedly bought 10 vials of ketamine and intended to sell to Perry.

He also injected Perry with a large dose, two days later. This caused him to “freeze up” and spiked his blood pressure.

When I Die, I Want Helping Others To Be The First Thing That’s Mentioned

Perry had always been open about his drug addictions, struggles with alcohol and his depression. He said that his openness would help others who are also struggling and wanted to be remembered by his quote which also is on the homepage of the Mattew Perry Foundation that helps others struggling with the disease of addiction: “When I die, I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.”

Five arrests have been made in the case so far.

Unlike many other cancers, cervical cancer is considered highly preventable through a combination of HPV vaccination, regular screening, and timely treatment of precancerous lesions.

India has recorded a significant decline in cervical cancer burden, with new cases falling by 37% over the past decade, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP).

Experts say widespread screening, awareness, and increasing uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have contributed to the milestone.

Cervical Cancer Cases Drop In India

The latest estimates show that the number of new cervical cancer cases has dropped from approximately 1.27 lakh annually to around 79,000, marking a major public health milestone in the fight against one of the most common cancers affecting Indian women.

"Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can largely be prevented through timely screening and vaccination," Dr. Amitabh Shankar, Head of Preventive Oncology at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS, was quoted as saying.

He attributed the decline to improved awareness, wider availability of screening services, and the gradual expansion of HPV vaccination.

Also read: Minimally Invasive Focal Therapy For Prostate Cancer Promises Fewer Side Effects Than Surgery Or Radiotherapy

Positive Impact Of Screening And HPV Vaccination

According to experts, early detection through routine cervical cancer screening allows precancerous changes to be identified and treated before they develop into cancer.

At the same time, HPV vaccination protects against high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer.

The report suggests that increased access to healthcare services, government-led awareness initiatives, and preventive programs have played an important role in reducing the cases of cervical cancer.

Despite the progress, specialists caution that cervical cancer continues to be a major health concern in India, particularly in rural and underserved regions where screening coverage and HPV vaccination remain limited.

They emphasize that expanding HPV vaccination among eligible adolescents, strengthening population-based screening programs, and improving early diagnosis will be essential to prevent it.

Also read: KRAS-Targeted Vaccine Shows Promise In Fighting Pancreatic Cancer, Triggers Strong Immune Response In Early Trial

About HPV Vaccine

The human papillomavirus causes more than 200 known infections. While some types lead to benign skin warts, others are responsible for severe health threats, such as cervical, throat, anal, and penile cancers.

The HPV vaccine provides strong protection against the most lethal strains, avoiding long-term health complications. It helps the immune system recognize and fight off high-risk strains of the virus before they cause harm. It protects against:

• Genital warts
• Cervical cancer
• Vaginal, vulvar, anal, and penile cancers
• Mouth, throat, head, and neck cancers linked to HPV

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervix is located in the pelvic cavity, about 3 to 6 inches inside the vaginal canal. It serves as the entrance to the uterus to the vagina. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), almost all cervial cancer are linked to human papillomaviruses (HPV) which are transmitted through sexual contact

Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer has no symptoms in the early days and therefore, is hard to detect until it has spread. Early-stage cervical cancer symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding after sex
• Vaginal bleeding post-menopause
• Vaginal bleeding between periods or unusually heavy/long periods
• Watery vaginal discharge with a strong odour or containing blood
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse

• Persistent early-stage symptoms
• Painful or difficult bowel movements or rectal bleeding
• Painful or difficult urination or blood in the urine
• Persistent dull backache
• Swelling of the legs
• Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen

Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India today announced that QDENGA (TAK-003) has become the first dengue vaccine to receive approval in India, marking a major milestone in the country's fight against the mosquito-borne disease.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted market authorization for QDENGA to prevent dengue in individuals aged 4-60 years. According to Takeda, it is India's first approved dengue vaccine and can be administered regardless of previous dengue infection, without requiring pre-vaccination testing.

"Since its launch in 2022, QDENGA has been approved in 43 countries, with more than 32 million doses distributed globally. This approval marks an important step forward in strengthening dengue prevention in India," said Dr. Mahender Nayak, Head of Intercontinental Markets.

QDENGA Vaccine: Why The Approval Matters

The approval comes at a critical time as dengue cases in India have risen sharply over the past two decades.

India accounts for nearly one-third of the global dengue burden. In 2025, more than 113,000 dengue cases were officially reported, although modelling studies suggest the true number of infections may run into tens of millions annually due to underreporting.

Rapid urbanization, climate change and widespread mosquito breeding have made dengue a year-round public health concern. Since there is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue, prevention remains the most effective strategy.

"India carries a substantial dengue burden, and all four dengue virus serotypes co-circulate in several regions. QDENGA is designed to protect against all four serotypes regardless of prior exposure," said Dr. Goh Choo Beng, Medical Affairs Head, Southeast Asia & India Cluster.

Also read: Dengue Serotypes Shifting In Young Adults: How India's Indigenous Vaccine Could Help Prevent Severe Disease

QDENGA: Scientific Evidence

The DCGI approval is supported by Takeda's global clinical development programme comprising 19 Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials involving more than 28,000 participants in dengue-endemic and non-endemic regions.

The pivotal Phase III TIDES (DEN-301) study enrolled more than 20,000 participants across eight countries and evaluated the vaccine's long-term safety and effectiveness.

Key findings include:

• 80.2% vaccine efficacy against virologically confirmed dengue one year after the second dose.
• 90.4% efficacy against dengue-related hospitalization at 18 months.
• 84.1% protection against dengue-related hospitalization after 4.5 years.
• Safety and efficacy data demonstrating protection for up to seven years across all four dengue virus serotypes.

The approval is also supported by an Indian Phase III (DEN-302) trial involving participants aged 4-60 years, which found QDENGA to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in children, adolescents and adults.

Read More: Dengue Is Spreading Beyond Monsoons And Into New Regions Across India, Says Expert

What Is QDENGA?

QDENGA (TAK-003) is a live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine designed to protect against all four dengue virus serotypes.

It is administered as two 0.5 mL subcutaneous doses, given three months apart.

The vaccine is built on a DENV-2 backbone, incorporating structural proteins from DENV-1, DENV-3 and DENV-4 to provide broad immune protection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends QDENGA for use in dengue-endemic settings without the need for pre-vaccination screening. The vaccine is also included in the WHO List of Prequalified Vaccines, allowing procurement through agencies such as UNICEF and PAHO.

The vaccine has been approved in 43 countries across Asia, Latin America and Europe. It is already part of Brazil's National Immunization Program and is available through public immunization programmes in Argentina, Colombia and Indonesia.

Who can take QDENGA?

The vaccine is approved in India for people aged 4-60 years to help prevent dengue disease.

Manufacturing In India

Takeda had partnered with Indian vaccine manufacturer Biological E in 2024 to expand production of QDENGA.

Under the agreement, Biological E plans to manufacture 50 million doses annually, supporting Takeda's goal of producing 100 million doses globally each year by the end of the decade.

A minimally invasive treatment that targets only cancerous tissue in the prostate may offer the same chance of treating localized prostate cancer as surgery or radiotherapy while causing significantly fewer side effects, according to a major UK study.

The findings suggest that focal therapy, which destroys only the tumor while preserving the healthy parts of the prostate, could become a viable treatment option for carefully selected patients.

It could help reduce common risks like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction that follow conventional treatment.

Prostate Cancer Treatment With Fewer Side Effects

The study, presented by University College London (UCL) and collaborating institutions, compared long-term outcomes of men treated with focal therapy against those receiving radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy.

Researchers found that cancer control was comparable across the treatment groups, while men undergoing focal therapy experienced substantially better functional outcomes.

"This study shows that men with localized prostate cancer do not necessarily have to choose between effective cancer treatment and preserving their quality of life," said Professor Caroline Moore, Professor of Urology at University College London.

"Our results demonstrate that focal therapy can control cancer effectively in appropriately selected men while significantly reducing the side effects associated with whole-gland treatments."

Also read: KRAS-Targeted Vaccine Shows Promise In Fighting Pancreatic Cancer, Triggers Strong Immune Response In Early Trial

Unlike surgery, which removes the entire prostate, or radiotherapy, which treats the whole gland, focal therapy targets only the cancer with the help of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). By sparing healthy tissue and surrounding nerves, the treatment aims to preserve urinary and sexual function.

According to the researchers, the study provides strong evidence that focal therapy can offer outcomes similar to standard treatments in men whose cancer is confined to a specific area of the prostate.

Not Appropriate For Every Patient

Professor Moore cautioned that focal therapy for prostate cancer may not be suitable for every patient. "It is important that men undergo careful assessment with high-quality imaging and biopsy so that we can identify those who are most likely to benefit from this treatment," she said.

The researchers also emphasized that patients receiving focal therapy require ongoing follow-up, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and imaging, to monitor any recurrence or progression of disease.

Also read: Broadcaster Lauren Laverne Shares 'Smoldering Myeloma' Diagnosis After Cancer Recovery

Jeremy Clarkson's Revelation

The findings have drawn renewed public attention after television presenter Jeremy Clarkson recently disclosed that he underwent treatment for prostate cancer.

Clarkson revealed that he chose a treatment that reduced long-term side effects, raising awareness about prostate cancer, and the importance of early diagnosis.

Prostate cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men worldwide. While surgery and radiotherapy remain the standard treatments for localized disease, both can result in complications like urinary leakage, bowel problems and erectile dysfunction that can affect the quality of life.

Experts say the new findings support a growing shift toward more personalized treatment strategies that balance cancer treatment with quality of life.