Health 18 August 2025 - 28 January 2026

Eli Lilly stock slips as new orforglipron data raises side-effect questions vs Novo pill
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Eli Lilly stock slips as new orforglipron data raises side-effect questions vs Novo pill

Eli Lilly shares fell about 1% Thursday after new trial data showed its experimental weight-loss pill, orforglipron, caused more stomach-related side effects and patient dropouts than Novo Nordisk’s rival drug. The ACHIEVE-3 trial found Lilly’s pill led to greater blood sugar and weight reduction, but 10% discontinued due to side effects, double the rate seen with Novo’s oral semaglutide.
February 26, 2026
FDA hits pause on Regenxbio gene therapies after child’s brain tumor; stock slumps
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FDA hits pause on Regenxbio gene therapies after child’s brain tumor; stock slumps

The FDA placed clinical holds on Regenxbio’s RGX-111 and RGX-121 gene therapy trials after a brain tumor was found in a child who received RGX-111. Regenxbio shares dropped about 20% in morning trading. The company is investigating whether the tumor is linked to the treatment and has not yet received the FDA’s full clinical hold letter. No tumors have been reported in other trial participants.
January 28, 2026
Apple Watch blood pressure alerts go live in Australia after TGA green light
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Apple Watch blood pressure alerts go live in Australia after TGA green light

Apple has launched hypertension notifications for Apple Watch users in Australia, following approval by the national medical device regulator in December. The feature, available on Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches, analyzes heart sensor data and alerts users to possible high blood pressure. It does not provide a diagnosis or blood pressure readings. Doctors caution alerts should be confirmed with medical professionals.
January 28, 2026
Roche’s CT-388 weight-loss shot hits 22.5% in Phase 2, sets up pivotal trials
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Roche’s CT-388 weight-loss shot hits 22.5% in Phase 2, sets up pivotal trials

Roche said its experimental obesity drug CT-388 produced a 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss after 48 weeks in a Phase 2 trial. The company plans to start Phase 3 trials this quarter. Shares rose about 0.5% as investors weighed competition from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Most side effects were gastrointestinal, with no new safety issues reported.
January 27, 2026
RFK Jr revives cellphone radiation debate with new HHS study after FDA pulls safety pages
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RFK Jr revives cellphone radiation debate with new HHS study after FDA pulls safety pages

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered a study into cellphone radiation risks after the FDA removed claims of safety from its website. The move comes as agencies push wireless expansion and industry groups cite no proven health threat. The National Toxicology Program found some cancer links in rats exposed to older signals, but human studies show no consistent evidence of harm.
January 22, 2026
ISS-grown bacteria-killing viruses return to Earth and hit E. coli harder, study finds
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ISS-grown bacteria-killing viruses return to Earth and hit E. coli harder, study finds

Bacteriophages evolved aboard the International Space Station became more effective at killing certain UTI-causing E. coli strains once returned to Earth, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison reported. Microgravity delayed early infections and led to unique mutations in both the viruses and bacteria. Scientists say scaling up such space-based experiments remains difficult.
January 20, 2026
RFK Jr. reopens cellphone radiation debate as HHS orders new federal study
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RFK Jr. reopens cellphone radiation debate as HHS orders new federal study

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will launch a new study on cellphone radiation after pressure from Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an agency spokesman said. The FDA has removed older webpages stating phones are not dangerous as the department reviews health research on electromagnetic radiation. Federal health agencies still say there is no proven link between cellphone use and cancer.
January 17, 2026
Apple Health App Overhaul in iOS 26.4: AI Health Coach, Meal Tracking, and Expert Videos Reportedly Coming in Spring 2026
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Apple Health App Overhaul in iOS 26.4: AI Health Coach, Meal Tracking, and Expert Videos Reportedly Coming in Spring 2026

Apple is expected to launch a major Health app overhaul with iOS 26.4, according to leaked internal references and multiple reports. The update may include a redesigned interface, built-in meal tracking, expert health videos, and an AI-powered health agent, possibly under a new “Health+” subscription. Apple has not confirmed the features.
January 12, 2026
Android 17 “Motion Cues” could reduce phone car sickness with smart on-screen dots — here’s what’s new on Dec. 17, 2025
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Android 17 “Motion Cues” could reduce phone car sickness with smart on-screen dots — here’s what’s new on Dec. 17, 2025

Google is testing Motion Cues for Android 17, a feature that overlays animated dots on the screen to reduce motion sickness when using phones in moving vehicles. Reports on December 17 indicate Google is integrating this at the system level, allowing the dots to appear even on lock screens and notifications. Apple already offers a similar feature on iOS.
December 17, 2025
‘Smartphone Pinky’ Is Back: Why Big Phones Are Hurting Your Hands in 2025 — And How to Fix It
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‘Smartphone Pinky’ Is Back: Why Big Phones Are Hurting Your Hands in 2025 — And How to Fix It

Nearly 60% of over 2,600 Android Authority poll respondents say they hold their phones one-handed with the pinky finger supporting the device, a grip linked to pain and nerve irritation. Recent studies and clinical reports from 2024–2025 find no evidence of dramatic deformities, but confirm growing cases of hand pain and musculoskeletal problems tied to phone use.
December 3, 2025
Constant Phone Checking Is Rewiring Your Brain: What New 2025 Research Says About Focus, Memory and Work
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Constant Phone Checking Is Rewiring Your Brain: What New 2025 Research Says About Focus, Memory and Work

On November 28, 2025, multiple outlets reported new research showing that frequent phone checking—rather than just screen time—can disrupt focus and subtly alter brain function. The Washington Post illustrated a typical user checking their phone over 100 times daily, with measurable drops in attention and memory. News18 and Unica Radio highlighted how constant notifications train the brain to expect stimulation and slow concentration.
November 28, 2025
Neuralink ‘Patient 4’ Mystery, TikTok Sleuths and Paradromics’ FDA‑Approved Speech Chip: What’s Really Happening on 25 November 2025
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Neuralink ‘Patient 4’ Mystery, TikTok Sleuths and Paradromics’ FDA‑Approved Speech Chip: What’s Really Happening on 25 November 2025

Paradromics received FDA approval to begin human trials of its speech-restoring brain implant, Connexus, on November 25, 2025. Meanwhile, questions mount online about Neuralink’s “Patient 4,” identified in public records as Mike Melgarejo, who is reportedly in severe distress according to a GoFundMe campaign. Neuralink has not commented on Melgarejo’s status.
November 25, 2025
Apple Fitness+ Under Review: Health+ Merger, AI Coaching and Apple’s “Too Many Services” Problem
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Apple Fitness+ Under Review: Health+ Merger, AI Coaching and Apple’s “Too Many Services” Problem

Apple Fitness+ is under internal review as Apple considers folding it into a broader Health+ subscription planned for 2026, according to multiple reports. The service faces high churn and limited revenue, prompting a leadership shift to VP of Health Dr. Sumbul Desai. Fitness+ is now overseen by Apple’s health division, which reports to Services chief Eddy Cue. No plans to discontinue the service have been confirmed.
November 17, 2025
Apple Watch’s Hidden Lifesaver: All the Safety Features That Could Save Your Life
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Apple Watch’s Hidden Lifesaver: All the Safety Features That Could Save Your Life

Apple Watch’s new Check In feature now alerts contacts if you don’t reach your destination or finish an activity as expected. Emergency SOS and Crash Detection can automatically call emergency services and share your location after a fall or car accident. Medical ID displays health details for first responders on the lock screen. Fall Detection is enabled by default for users 55 and older.
November 5, 2025
Never Forget Your Doctor’s Advice: NHS Embraces New AI “Medical Memory” App
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Never Forget Your Doctor’s Advice: NHS Embraces New AI “Medical Memory” App

The Mirror app, developed by Oxford-based Aide Health, uses AI to record medical appointments and generate plain-English summaries for patients. NHS trials are underway, with the technology supporting patients with chronic conditions across England. Studies show patients forget up to 80% of medical advice, contributing to an estimated £1 billion annual cost to the NHS. Patient advocates welcome the tool, but experts warn about digital access gaps.
October 25, 2025
Is Your Child’s Screen Time a Hidden Crisis? The Alarming New Reality of Kids and Smartphones
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Is Your Child’s Screen Time a Hidden Crisis? The Alarming New Reality of Kids and Smartphones

About 90% of U.S. children under 12 watch TV and 61–68% use smartphones or tablets, though most parents say kids should be at least 12 before getting a phone. A global survey links early smartphone use to worse mental health, but a recent Oxford-led study found no evidence that daily screen exposure harms cognitive development. Official guidelines urge strict limits, and public debate over children’s phone use is intensifying.
October 14, 2025
Pig Neurons in Human Brains? The 2025 Reality Check on Neuron Xenotransplantation—Breakthroughs, Risks, and What Happens Next
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Pig Neurons in Human Brains? The 2025 Reality Check on Neuron Xenotransplantation—Breakthroughs, Risks, and What Happens Next

Porcine interneuron precursors have successfully engrafted and functioned in rodents and an epileptic sea lion. Human neurons and glia have integrated into animal brains in research settings. In 2024–2025, FDA-cleared kidney xenotransplant trials began enrolling, and regulators updated guidance, but neuron xenotransplantation in humans has not yet started. Advances in CRISPR and immune-shielded pigs have improved safety foundations.
August 18, 2025
Yamanaka Factors Are Resetting Aging Cells
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Rewinding the Clock: How Yamanaka Factors Are Resetting Aging Cells

In 2022, 124-week-old mice treated with inducible OSK via AAV9 and a 1-day-on/6-days-off cycle lived about twice as long in remaining lifespan, with a 9–12% median lifespan extension. Earlier studies showed partial reprogramming with OSKM extended lifespan and improved tissue function in mice. Human cell experiments reset aging markers by about 30 years. Safety concerns, including cancer risk, remain unresolved.
August 18, 2025
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