Author: Andrew Rogers

Leading scientists are urging the UK government to introduce cigarette-style health warnings on packets of bacon and ham, warning that chemicals used in processing them can cause bowel cancer. The demand comes a decade after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meats as carcinogenic to humans, alongside tobacco and asbestos, due to nitrites—preservatives that give bacon and ham their pink colour and longer shelf life. Experts say government “inaction” since the 2015 WHO report has contributed to 54,000 bowel cancer cases and an estimated £3bn cost to the NHS. In an open letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, members…

The weight-loss drug semaglutide can significantly lower the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in patients who lose little or no weight, according to a large global study published in The Lancet. Researchers at University College London (UCL) analysed data from 17,604 people aged 45 and older who were overweight or obese. Half received weekly injections of semaglutide – the active ingredient in Wegovy – while the other half were given a placebo. Results showed that semaglutide reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease by 20%, regardless of the…

People taking antidepressants may experience significantly different physical side-effects depending on the drug, according to new UK research. The study, led by King’s College London and the University of Oxford, reviewed 151 clinical trials involving more than 58,000 people and 30 antidepressant types. It found marked differences in weight change, heart rate, and blood pressure across medications — even within the first two months of treatment. For instance, patients taking maprotiline gained an average of 2kg, while those on agomelatine lost about 2.5kg, a difference of roughly 4kg between drugs. Nearly half of patients using maprotiline or amitriptyline experienced weight…

Pizza Hut’s UK restaurant operator has gone into administration, leading to the closure of 68 branches across the country — from Finchley Lido in London to Carlisle and Rhyl — along with 11 delivery-only sites. The move puts around 1,210 jobs at risk. The company, DC London Pie, which ran Pizza Hut’s UK dine-in operations under a franchise agreement, appointed administrators from FTI Consulting on Monday. In a pre-pack administration deal, US parent company Yum! Brands — which also owns KFC and Taco Bell — has stepped in to purchase and directly manage 64 remaining sites, safeguarding 1,276 jobs. Matt…

Millions of young people could miss out on effective treatments because so few take part in medical research, experts warn. New data show that 18- to 24-year-olds make up 8% of England’s population but only 4.4% of medical study participants, meaning treatments are often designed for older adults. Between 2021 and 2024, only 32,879 young adults took part in 5,000-plus studies backed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). “Young people face unique health challenges shaped by social pressures and life transitions,” said Kirsty Blenkins of the Association for Young People’s Health. “If they’re not included, treatments…

A new “smart” injection has shown remarkable results in shrinking head and neck cancer tumours within six weeks, offering fresh hope for patients with advanced disease. The treatment uses amivantamab, a triple-action drug that can be delivered by a simple under-the-skin injection. Results from the Orig-AMI 4 trial, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin, revealed that the therapy stopped tumour growth or reduced tumour size in 76% of patients who had already undergone chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Head and neck cancer is the world’s sixth most common cancer, and when it returns or spreads after standard…

Paramount Skydance is set to begin major layoffs the week of 27 October, cutting around 2,000 jobs in the US as part of a $2 billion cost-reduction plan led by 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 to be revealed in the company’s third-quarter earnings report on 10 November. Earlier reports suggested Paramount was planning to eliminate between 2,000 and 3,000 positions by early November. As of December 2024, the company employed about 18,600 full-…

A long-acting injection that prevents HIV infection is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering an alternative to daily oral pills. The treatment, called cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered once every two months. It is designed for HIV-negative adults and young people who are unable to take traditional oral PrEP. The injection is already available through the NHS in Scotland. In draft guidance published on Friday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended CAB-LA as an effective new prevention option. The rollout in England and Wales is expected…

Nestlé plans to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as part of a major restructuring effort aimed at boosting sales and reducing costs. The layoffs — affecting nearly 6% of the company’s global workforce — will include about 12,000 white-collar roles and 4,000 positions across manufacturing and supply chains. “The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster,” said Philipp Navratil, the company’s new chief executive. “This will include making hard but necessary decisions to reduce headcount over the next two years. We will do this with respect and transparency.” Navratil took over last month after…

Rhizanthella is a remarkable orchid unlike any other. It spends its entire life beneath the soil, producing flowers underground and surviving without leaves. Instead of photosynthesizing, this elusive plant depends on a complex relationship with a fungus that extracts nutrients from the soil and connects to the roots of the broom bush (Melaleuca uncinata). Discovered by chance in 1928 when a farmer ploughing his field in Western Australia unearthed the first specimen, Rhizanthella quickly became an international curiosity. Nearly a century later, it remains one of the most mysterious plants on Earth. Locating it is notoriously difficult, requiring botanists to…