A new study has found that a combination of two drugs could enhance the immune system to treat one of the most common types of cancer in the world, bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, despite its widespread presence, the treatment options for this condition are limited. What the study specifically found was that this procedure could shrink the tumours caused by this condition by around 60%.

What Are The Drugs Involved

The trial involved the use of two immunotherapy drugs, botancilimab and balstilumab. It is a monoclonal antibody that works to stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer. The study is a rather significant find, as it’s the first time that a consistent and durable response to immunotherapy has been reported in patients with solid MSS mCRC tumours.

The study was divided into several phases for more than 6 months. In the US trial, around around 101 patients with microsatile stable metastatic colorectal (MSS-mCRC) tumours showed a decrease . Around 61% of the patients experienced tumour shrinkage or stabilization after combined treatment with votancilumab and balstilumab. When it comes to downsides, diarrhea and fatigue were found to be the most common side effects or side effects of this drug.

These results are interesting and open to exploration. To date, immunotherapy has not been effective in patients with CNS-mCRC tumors. This study demonstrates the potential of the combination of botenlimab and balstilimab in the treatment of CNS mCRC, providing new hope for people diagnosed with colon cancer.

What Could This Mean For Bowel Cancer Treatment In The Future

The study is currently in the final stages of clinical trials, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes to quickly gain approval for its use because of the importance of this area that affects many people. The efficiency shown demonstrates the potential of botansilimab to contribute to broad antitumor immunity.

All in all, the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab represents a promising new direction in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This breakthrough could improve conditions for many patients worldwide and lights a new hope in the fight against this common disease. The results of this study show the effectiveness of immunotherapy in this field and how its potential to transform cancer treatment can only grow in the years to come.

Weight-loss medications such as oral semaglutide have become increasingly popular for treating obesity. However, a new study suggests that a 45-minute, minimally invasive procedure called Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) may deliver greater short-term weight loss than oral semaglutide tablets.

Published in the Endoscopy journal, the study compared two established non-surgical obesity treatments—ESG and oral semaglutide 14 mg.

ESG Led to Greater Weight Loss at 6 Months

Researchers from AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, found that patients who underwent ESG lost significantly more weight than those taking oral semaglutide after six months.

Patients treated with ESG achieved an average 12.72% total body weight loss, compared with 8.67% among those taking semaglutide. The difference remained significant even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI and diabetes.

"The most important message from this study is that obesity treatment has to be individualized. ESG appears to offer a stronger early push in weight loss, especially for patients who need a meaningful reduction in a short period," said Dr. Nitin Jagtap, Consultant Gastroenterologist at AIG Hospitals.

He added that ESG is not a shortcut but a structured intervention that helps patients reset eating habits and build sustainable lifestyle changes.

How Was the Study Conducted?

The retrospective study included 150 adults with obesity treated between January 2024 and April 2025. Of these, 50 underwent ESG, while 100 received oral semaglutide 14 mg once daily.

All participants also followed a calorie-deficient diet and moderate exercise plan, highlighting that both treatments work best alongside lifestyle modifications.

What Did the Study Find?

ESG also outperformed semaglutide in the number of patients achieving clinically meaningful weight loss.

• 70% of ESG patients lost at least 10% of their body weight, compared with 43% in the semaglutide group.
• 36% of ESG patients achieved 15% or more weight loss, versus just 7% of those taking semaglutide.

No major adverse events were reported in either group.

Notably, by 12 months, the gap between the two treatments had narrowed. Average weight loss was 11.92% in the ESG group and 10.91% in the semaglutide group, with no statistically significant difference.

The findings are particularly relevant for India, where obesity often occurs alongside diabetes, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular risk at lower BMI levels than in Western populations, the researchers said.

Researchers Urge Caution

The researchers noted that the findings should be interpreted carefully because this was a retrospective, single-centre study, not a randomized clinical trial.

They also stressed that the comparison was limited to oral semaglutide 14 mg and should not be extended to higher-dose injectable GLP-1 drugs or newer dual-incretin therapies, which may produce different results.

"Obesity care is entering a new phase where endoscopy, pharmacology, nutrition and lifestyle medicine must come together," said Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospitals.

He emphasized that ESG and medications like semaglutide should be viewed as complementary options rather than competing therapies, with the shared goal of achieving and maintaining meaningful weight loss.

ESG vs Oral Semaglutide: How Do They Work?

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a minimally invasive procedure performed through the mouth without external incisions. Using an endoscope and suturing device, doctors reduce the stomach's size by placing internal stitches, helping patients feel full sooner without surgically removing part of the stomach.

Oral semaglutide belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of drugs. It reduces appetite, increases feelings of fullness and helps lower calorie intake. Unlike ESG, it requires daily medication, long-term adherence and continued affordability.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel), making it the first gene therapy approved for children as young as 2 years with sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT).

Earlier, the one-time CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy was approved only for patients aged 12 years and older. The expanded label is expected to make approximately 5,500 additional children in the US eligible for treatment, the company said.

Why The Expanded Approval Matters

The FDA said earlier intervention could help prevent irreversible organ damage and improve long-term health outcomes.

“With today’s decision, pediatric patients as young as 2 years of age can now access a critical additional treatment option to treat these debilitating, life-threatening diseases,” said Karim Mikhail, Acting Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

"Making this therapy available to younger patients opens a critical window for intervention and gives these children a meaningful chance at a healthier future," added Megha Kaushal, Acting Deputy Director of the FDA's Office of Therapeutic Products.

Also read: Scientific Breakthrough: US Scientists Create First Synthetic Cell That Eats and Reproduces

Clinical Trial Results

The expanded approval is backed by clinical trial data in children aged 5 to under 12 years.

For sickle cell disease:

• All 8 evaluable patients experienced no severe vaso-occlusive crises (painful episodes) for at least 12 consecutive months within the first two years after treatment.

For transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia:

• Eight of nine evaluable patients achieved transfusion independence for at least 12 consecutive months.
• The median duration of transfusion independence was 20.1 months.

What Is Casgevy?

Casgevy is a one-time gene-editing therapy that uses CRISPR technology to modify a patient's own blood stem cells, enabling the body to produce healthier red blood cells.

Also Read: Popular Potato Chips Brand Recalled, Classified Under Highest FDA Risk Level Over Salmonella Contamination

For people with sickle cell disease, it aims to prevent painful vaso-occlusive crises. In beta thalassemia, it can eliminate the need for regular blood transfusions in many patients.

“These disorders carry a heavy burden for children and their families, affecting growth, development, and long-term health in profound ways,” said Kaushal, also a pediatric hematologist. “Grounded in the scientific evidence that earlier treatment reduces the risk of lasting end-organ damage, making this therapy available to younger patients opens a critical window for intervention and gives these children a meaningful chance at a healthier future.”

The FDA granted the expanded approval through its Commissioner's National Priority Voucher program, completing the review in 53 days.

Vertex said it has also submitted applications to expand Casgevy's use in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, where regulatory reviews are currently underway.

A popular snack brand is currently under scrutiny after its multiple products were classified under the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Class I recall. The move came after concerns over its product being contaminated with Salmonella surfaced.

Why Did The Product Get Recalled?

According to the FDA, the recall was initiated in May by Utz Quality Foods LLC after the company found out that a seasoning ingredient containing milk powder, sourced from California Dairies Inc. through a third-party supplier, may have been contaminated with Salmonella.

The recall affects a few varieties of its Zapp's and Dirty’s potato chips, including Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch, Big Cheezy, and Salt and Vinegar potato chips, as well as Dirty brand Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, and Sour Cream and Onion potato chips.

According to the FDA, Utz said the seasoning batches tested negative before being used in production, but the decision to recall the products was taken as a precautionary measure.

While no illnesses have been reported yet, the FDA's move indicates there is a reasonable probability that consuming these products could result in adverse health consequences and even death.

Also read: Cyclospora Parasite Spreads Across 17 US States: How To Prevent Parasitic Infection

What Does FDA’s Class I Recall Signify?

The FDA uses three categories to classify product recalls based on the level of public health risk. A Class I recall is usually reserved for products that pose the highest risk to consumers.

It is issued when there is a reasonable probability that consumption or use of the product will cause serious health problems or death.

What Is Salmonella & How Serious It Is?

Salmonella infection, known as salmonellosis, usually develops between six hours and six days after consuming contaminated food.

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Common symptoms of salmonellosis include:

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Stomach cramps

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Headache

Most healthy people recover within four to seven days without targeted treatment. However, it can become severe when the infection enters the bloodstream. Deemed as a medical emergency, this situation prompts urgent attention.

Those with weakened immunity systems, such as young children, older adults, and women who are expecting are at the greatest risk of developing serious complications from salmonellosis. In rare cases, the infection can become life-threatening.

The FDA has advised consumers not to eat the recalled potato chips. It has also said that anyone who has purchased the affected products should either discard them or return them to the place where they bought them for a refund.

The regulatory body has also said that consumers who experience symptoms of salmonellosis after eating the recalled products, especially those at higher risk for complications, should seek medical care immediately.

Although no infection cases linked to the recalled chips have been reported to date, health officials say the recall is intended to prevent potential cases before they occur.