Author: Andrew Rogers

The weight-loss drug semaglutide significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, even for people who lose little or no weight, according to a major new study published in The Lancet. Researchers from University College London analysed data from more than 17,600 adults across 41 countries who were overweight or obese. Half received weekly semaglutide injections, while the rest were given a placebo. The drug, known commercially as Wegovy, lowered the risk of major cardiovascular events—such as heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease—by 20%, regardless of how much weight participants lost. While smaller waistlines were linked to…

A major UK study has found significant differences in the side-effects of antidepressants, including weight change, heart rate, and blood pressure. Researchers from King’s College London and the University of Oxford analysed data from 151 clinical trials involving more than 58,000 people taking 30 different antidepressants. They discovered that some drugs can cause up to 2kg of weight gain within two months, while others may lead to comparable weight loss. For example, maprotiline and amitriptyline were linked to weight gain in nearly half of patients, while over half of those taking agomelatine experienced weight loss. The study also found a…

Pizza Hut’s UK restaurant operator, DC London Pie, has gone into administration, leading to the closure of 68 dine-in locations and 11 delivery-only sites across the country. The closures affect restaurants from Finchley Lido in London to Carlisle and Rhyl, putting around 1,210 jobs at risk. The global parent company, Yum! Brands—which also owns KFC and Taco Bell—has stepped in to purchase the UK restaurant operation through a pre-pack administration deal, preserving 64 restaurants and safeguarding 1,276 jobs. These surviving sites will now be directly owned and managed by Yum!. Matt Callaghan, joint administrator at FTI Consulting, said the deal…

A simple parenting strategy has helped prevent an estimated 60,000 children from developing peanut allergies over the past decade. The approach, introduced in 2015, has led to a 27% decline in peanut allergies among children under 3. Health experts say early introduction of peanut-containing foods is key. Studies have shown that exposing young children to peanuts safely can train their immune systems to tolerate them, reducing the risk of allergies. The strategy was based on research from major allergy and immunology studies. Parents were advised to include small amounts of peanut products in their child’s diet, starting as early as…

Millions of young people could miss out on safe and effective treatments because too few take part in medical research, experts warn. Data from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) shows 18–24-year-olds make up 8% of England’s population but only 4.4% of medical trial participants. Between 2021 and 2024, just 32,879 young adults took part in more than 5,000 studies. Kirsty Blenkins of the Association for Young People’s Health said trials often focus on older adults, making treatments “unsafe or ineffective” for younger patients. Barriers include low awareness, limited outreach, and privacy concerns. Dr Esther Mukuka of…

A new “smart” injection treatment has shown remarkable success in shrinking head and neck cancer tumours within just six weeks, according to early trial results presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin. The drug, amivantamab, is a triple-action therapy that could transform treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)—a form of the disease that often returns after chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In the Orig-AMI 4 trial, funded by Janssen and involving 11 countries including the UK, 86 patients who had already undergone standard treatments were given amivantamab as an injection…

Paramount Skydance is set to lay off about 2,000 U.S. employees beginning the week of October 27 as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting initiative under new CEO David Ellison, Variety reported. The cuts follow the $8.4 billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global, which was finalized in August. Additional international layoffs are expected, with full details likely to be announced in the company’s third-quarter earnings report on November 10. Variety previously reported in August that Paramount planned to eliminate between 2,000 and 3,000 positions by early November. As of December 2024, Paramount employed around 18,600 full- and part-time…

Scotland’s trial of a four-day workweek is showing promising results for employees’ mental health and overall work-life balance. The initiative has captured attention as businesses and policymakers explore ways to improve workplace wellbeing. The trial involved a number of companies across Scotland, allowing employees to work fewer hours without reducing pay. Participants reported feeling less stressed, more motivated, and better able to manage personal responsibilities alongside their work commitments. Early feedback suggests that employees were more productive during their working hours, completing tasks efficiently while maintaining high-quality output. Many also noted improved focus and creativity, attributing this to additional rest…

A long-acting injection to prevent HIV is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering a major new alternative to daily pills currently used for protection against the virus. The injection, known as cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is administered once every two months and provides a new form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) for people at risk of HIV who cannot take oral medication. The treatment is already available on the NHS in Scotland. In draft guidance published on Friday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended CAB-LA for adults and young people unable to use daily…

Nestlé will cut 16,000 jobs worldwide — about 6% of its workforce — over the next two years as new CEO Philipp Navratil pushes to boost growth and cut costs. The layoffs include 12,000 office roles and 4,000 positions in manufacturing and supply chains. “The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster,” Navratil said, pledging to make “hard but necessary” decisions with transparency. The company, which makes KitKat, Nescafé, and Purina, aims to save 3 billion Swiss francs (£2.8bn) by 2027, up from its previous goal of 2.5bn. Nestlé reported a 1.9% sales drop to 65.9bn francs in…