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.

From weight loss and diabetes to cancers and much more, GLP-1 drugs have delivered blockbuster results and transformed treatment for millions of people worldwide.

Clinical data have consistently shown that GLP-1 receptor agonists containing semaglutide and tirzepatide—including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro—reduce overall mortality as well as the risk of heart-related deaths.

However, reports from the UK and US have linked these medicines to more than 200 deaths. While a direct causal relationship has not been established and millions of people use these medications safely, high-profile inquests and adverse event databases have highlighted reports of deaths in which these drugs were listed as a suspected contributing factor, including cases associated with severe complications, dosing errors, and the use of counterfeit or compounded products.

UK Reports 82 Deaths Linked to GLP-1 Drugs

Data submitted to the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) show a total of 82 deaths associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, the class of drugs used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, up to January 31, 2025.

The data includes 22 deaths associated with GLP-1 agonists used for weight loss, while 60 deaths were linked to their use in treating type 2 diabetes. As per the MHRA data:

• 18 deaths were linked to tirzepatide (Mounjaro), including 10 associated with weight loss and eight with type 2 diabetes treatment.
• 29 deaths werelinked to semaglutide products, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. Of these, four were associated with weight loss and 25 with diabetes treatment.
• 35 deaths werelinked to liraglutide products, including Saxenda and Victoza.

"The decision to start, continue, or stop treatments should be made jointly by patients and their doctor, based on full consideration of benefits and risks," said Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer.

Northern Ireland Reported Two Deaths in 2026

In 2026, the deaths of two people in Northern Ireland potentially linked to Wegovy and Mounjaro injections were also reported to the MHRA.

The two cases are among more than 500 suspected adverse drug reaction reports submitted from Northern Ireland over the past two years related to GLP-1 medications.

US Reported 162 Deaths

In the US, Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to 162 deaths since 2018, according to reports in the FDA's FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System) database.

While none of the deaths have been proven to be directly caused by semaglutide injections, the reports indicate the drugs were listed as a factor in the fatalities.

Growing Use of GLP-1 Drugs

Driven by the rising prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, the use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound has increased dramatically in recent years. The global GLP-1 drug market is estimated to reach $200 billion by 2030.

Although each medication has distinct FDA-approved uses, they share four common mechanisms of action:

• Stimulate insulin release.
• Reduce blood sugar.
• Slow digestion.
• Reduce hunger.

FDA Warning on Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs

In June 2026, the FDA raised concerns about patients and healthcare professionals seeking unapproved versions of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, for weight loss.

The agency warned that unapproved products do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness or quality before being marketed.

The FDA recommends that:

• Compounded drugs should only be used when a patient's medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug.
• Patients should obtain a prescription from their doctor and fill it at a state-licensed pharmacy.
• Patients should use the FDA's BeSafeRx campaign resources to safely purchase prescription medicines online.
• Patients should consult their doctor if they have questions about their medications.
• Patients should contact the compounder or telehealth platform where they purchased the drug if they have questions about instructions for use or label information.

What Are The Red Flags

The FDA advises consumers to watch for warning signs, including companies that:

• Claim a compounded drug is the same as an FDA-approved product.
• Offer medicines at deep discounts or prices that seem too good to be true.
• Send medicines that look different from previous prescriptions, arrive in damaged packaging or lack instructions for use.
• Do not require screening and a prescription from a licensed doctor.
• Do not have a licensed doctor available to answer questions after the medication is received.
• Have spelling errors on labels or provide incorrect pharmacy addresses.
• List a pharmacy name on the label that appears to be fraudulent.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research agency, has classified three widely used medicines—hydrochlorothiazide, voriconazole, and tacrolimus—as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning they are "carcinogenic to humans."

All three medicines are included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and are prescribed to millions of people worldwide for treating hypertension, serious fungal infections, and preventing organ transplant rejection.

A Group 1 classification means there is sufficient scientific evidence that an agent can cause cancer in humans under certain circumstances. However, it does not indicate how likely a person is to develop cancer while taking the medicine as prescribed. The actual risk depends on factors such as the dose, duration of use, individual health, and other risk factors.

Which Medicines Have Been Classified as Carcinogenic?

Hydrochlorothiazide: It is a thiazide diuretic commonly prescribed to treat essential hypertension. Although newer blood pressure medications are increasingly used, it remains a widely prescribed treatment because of the global burden of hypertension.

Voriconazole: It is a broad-spectrum triazole antifungal medicine used to treat invasive aspergillosis and other serious fungal infections, particularly among transplant recipients and other immunocompromised patients.

Tacrolimus: It is an immunosuppressive medicine used to reduce the risk of organ rejection in adult and pediatric transplant recipients and to prevent graft-versus-host disease following stem cell transplantation. Topical tacrolimus is also used as a second-line treatment for atopic dermatitis and vitiligo when topical corticosteroids are unsuitable.

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Why Did IARC Classify Them as Carcinogenic?

"The IARC Monographs Working Group reviewed evidence from epidemiological studies, cancer bioassays in experimental animals, and mechanistic studies to assess the carcinogenic hazard to humans of exposure to these agents and concluded that hydrochlorothiazide, tacrolimus, and voriconazole are all carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)," the IARC said.

• Hydrochlorothiazide has been linked to squamous cell skin cancer and lip cancer because it increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight.
• Voriconazole is associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin through the phototoxic effects of one of its metabolites.
• Tacrolimus has been linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, largely due to its immune-suppressing effects.

What Does This Mean for Patients?

Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Chairman, Medical Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told HealthandMe that the classification identifies a cancer hazard, not the level of cancer risk associated with normal therapeutic use.

"The IARC underlines that this Group 1 listing identifies a cancer hazard—the potential of an agent to cause malignancy rather than measuring how great the actual risk is when the medicines are taken at normal therapeutic doses. All three remain listed as essential medicines by WHO, reflecting their critical role in treating serious illness," he said.

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Dr. Aggarwal stressed that patients should not stop taking these medicines without consulting their doctor.

"Abruptly stopping any of these agents can result in dangerous rises in blood pressure, uncontrolled infection, or transplant failure. The recommended course is to speak with the treating physician, adopt rigorous sun-protection habits if taking hydrochlorothiazide or voriconazole, and maintain regular surveillance for those receiving tacrolimus after transplantation," he added.

No Need to Panic

Dr. Tushar Tayal, Associate Director – Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told HealthandMe the reclassification should not be a cause for alarm.

According to him, the concern relates to long-term cumulative exposure rather than a single dose. Stopping treatment abruptly could pose a much greater immediate risk, including uncontrolled hypertension, severe infection, or transplant rejection.

What Should Patients Do?

• Do not stop or change your medication on your own.
• Consult your treating physician before making any changes to your treatment.
• Discuss whether regular skin examinations or an alternative treatment plan may be appropriate based on your individual risk.
• Use sun protection if you are taking hydrochlorothiazide or voriconazole, as advised by your doctor.
• Attend regular follow-up appointments, especially if you are taking tacrolimus after an organ transplant.

A UK-based surgeon from Egypt has been permanently barred from practising medicine after a medical tribunal found that he made a catastrophic blunder during an emergency bowel surgery.

Dr Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman, who was working as a locum surgeon at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester, mistakenly connected the wrong parts of a patient’s digestive system, a procedure experts described as “not known to man.”

Here's What Happened

Dr Rahman carried out the operation on a young man in August 2020. Instead of restoring the patient’s bowel, the surgery created a “closed loop” that caused contents of the bowel to flow back into the stomach.

The error left the patient in unimaginable pain and in a condition deemed “not compatible with life.”

According to findings by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), the patient was left feeling severe pain, vomiting and an inability to pass stool after the surgery.

A second surgeon later performed emergency corrective surgery, creating a stoma and saved the patient’s life.

The tribunal heard that Dr Rahman failed to realise the seriousness of the patient’s deteriorating condition and did not adequately respond to concerns raised by the patient’s family and medical colleagues.

An expert from the General Medical Council (GMC) described the erroneous procedure as “as bad as it gets” and said the surgical connection was “not known to man.”

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The Surgeon Was Struck Off From The UK Medical Register

The tribunal ruled that Dr Rahman’s actions amounted to serious professional misconduct.

It also found that, in 2021, after restrictions were placed on his medical practice, he breached them by taking up a locum job in Affidea Express Care Clinic in Ireland in 2022.

Dr Rahman was absent at the misconduct hearing and instead maintained that he was a victim of a witch hint and had been made a “scapegoat.”

But, the tribunal concluded that his incompetence, failure to accept responsibility and repeated breaches of regulatory conditions meant he posed an ongoing risk to patients. He has now been permanently removed from the UK medical register.

Also read: World Plastic Surgery Day: Hidden Risks To Know If You’re Travelling Abroad For Affordable Cosmetic Procedures

What Is A “Closed Loop” Bowel Obstruction?

A closed loop bowel obstruction occurs when a section of the intestine is blocked at two points, restricting its contents. This can fatally cut off blood supply to the bowel, causing tissue death, perforation, infection and sepsis if not treated urgently.

In this case, the incorrect surgical connections diverted bowel contents back into the patient’s stomach instead of allowing them to pass normally through the digestive tract, creating a life-threatening emergency that required immediate corrective surgery.

While surgical complications can occur even in experienced hands, medical experts told the tribunal this error was far from acceptable.

The case has also drawn attention because the surgeon allegedly ignored warning signs after the operation. He later breached restrictions placed on his medical licence by taking up a job elsewhere. These factors ultimately contributed to the decision to strike him off from the UK register permanently.

Also read: UK Woman Becomes World-First To Receive Experimental Cell Therapy For Ovarian Cancer

About Dr. Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman

Dr Rahman qualified in 1993 from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. He trained as a general and colorectal surgeon.

He later worked in the UK as a locum consultant, meaning he was employed on temporary contracts rather than in a permanent consultant position.

At the time of the incident in August 2020, he had only been working at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester for a few days before performing the emergency bowel surgery.