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While TrumpRx is making headlines for lowering the prices of popular weight loss drugs, something else has also grabbed attention of many. A video from the Oval Office from the Thursday Press Conference when President Donald Trump was announcing the deal with the drugmakers, a man had collapsed. Many claimed that the person who collapsed was Gordon Findlay, who is Novo Nordisk's executive. Dr Mehmet Oz, an American present and a physician was swift to check on the man who had collapsed. Independent journalist Eric Daugherty shared the video and wrote: "A man just passed out during President Trump's Oval Office announcement. Dr Oz Sprung into action and assisted him. Pray for him."
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The reason why many have identified the man as Gordon Findlay because in the video, David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lily could be heard asking, "You okay? Gordon, you okay?" Upon this, the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in the statement that "a representative with one of the companies fainted". However, no names were given.
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Novo Nordisk later clarified the claims, and in a statement to Newsweek, the company said, "Please be aware that CEO Mike Doustdar and EVP, US operations, Dave More were the only two Novo Nordisk representatives in the Oval Office."
Dr Oz had previously also helped out at the Oval office in April, when a child fainted while he was being sworn in. A woman, who many media outlets claimed, appeared to be Oz's daughter, Daphne, escorted the girl who had fainted. Later, the White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital that the girl was family member of Oz and had recovered.
If someone collapses in front of you, the first need is for someone to try simple CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while medical help is on its way. What must one keep in mind if someone collapses?
Check for any danger around the person, and give the shoulders of the person who collapsed a shake. Ask them if they can hear you, notes BBC.
If there is no response, tilt their head back to ensure that the airway is clear. This may be enough for the person to again start breathing.
If they are not breathing, this is when CPR becomes important.
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As per NHS, UK, there are two correct ways to practice CPR on adults:
This is to be carry out as a chest compression
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Former Senator Ben Sasse shared on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The former two-term senator, now 53, revealed in a long social media message that he learned about the illness last week. “This is a hard note to write, but since many of you have already sensed something, I’ll get straight to it: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and I am going to die,” Sasse wrote. He went on to describe advanced pancreatic cancer as “brutal” and called it a death sentence, adding that mortality is something everyone carries.
“I’m fortunate to have incredible siblings and half a dozen friends who are truly like brothers to me. As one of them said, ‘Yes, you’re on the clock, but all of us are.’ Death is a cruel thief, and none of us escape it,” he added.
The Nebraska Republican also wrote, “I’ll have more to share. I’m not giving up without a fight.”
Former senator and former University of Florida president Ben Sasse announced on Tuesday, Dec. 23, that he has been diagnosed with terminal stage 4 cancer, as per CNN News.
In the deeply personal message, the former Republican lawmaker from Nebraska described the diagnosis as a “death sentence,” while expressing appreciation for the steady support of his family and close friends.
Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, also known as metastatic pancreatic cancer, means the disease has spread beyond the pancreas to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, or the lining of the abdomen. At this advanced stage, the cancer is generally considered incurable, and care focuses on prolonging life and easing symptoms like pain, weight loss, and jaundice through palliative treatment, with the goal of preserving quality of life, as per Cleveland Clinic.
Pancreatic cancer has a far poorer survival outlook than prostate cancer, largely because it is usually detected late and has fewer effective treatment options. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer that has not spread survive at least five years, while pancreatic cancer is often found at an advanced stage, where long-term survival is uncommon.
According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer makes up about 3 percent of all cancers in the United States but accounts for roughly 8 percent of cancer-related deaths. Most patients are diagnosed at Stage 4, and the disease is widely regarded as largely incurable. Prostate cancer, by contrast, is the second most common cancer among men, and the majority of those diagnosed do not die from it. The five-year relative survival rate for non-metastasized prostate cancer is 97.9 percent, dropping to about 38 percent once it spreads. These figures highlight how early detection and effective treatment options make prostate cancer far more survivable than pancreatic cancer.
Recent news has included diagnoses such as Ben Sasse’s terminal pancreatic cancer, as well as public figures like John Eimen, who died from prostate cancer. These cases draw attention to the difficulty of detecting pancreatic cancer early, since there are few reliable screening tools before symptoms appear. Prostate cancer, in contrast, often progresses slowly, and with regular screening and multiple treatment options, many men live for decades after diagnosis.
While treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, and in rare situations surgery are available, stage-four pancreatic cancer is still considered largely incurable. The absence of effective early screening contributes to delayed diagnosis, and although a small number of patients, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have lived longer following surgery, these cases are rare. Well-known individuals including Alex Trebek and Aretha Franklin also battled the disease, which remains one of the deadliest cancers in the United States.
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Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, along with responsibilities in the PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday called for careful and evidence-led use of anti-obesity and weight-reduction medicines. He stressed that these drugs should be prescribed thoughtfully and not treated as routine or easy solutions.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Asia Oceania Conference on Obesity (AOCO), the minister said obesity is a complex, long-term condition that tends to recur and cannot be managed through isolated medical treatment alone. Instead, he said, it needs a wider response involving society at large.
At the same event, Dr Singh also launched the National Obesity Registry, describing it as an important step towards strengthening India’s obesity research framework. The initiative aims to support structured data collection, generate reliable evidence, and guide long-term policymaking in the area.
During the conference, Dr Jitendra Singh formally unveiled the AIAARO Obesity Registry, calling it a major move to strengthen India’s research ecosystem. The registry will focus on systematic data collection, long-term follow-up, and evidence-based policymaking. It is expected to help improve clinical understanding of obesity and support the development of national strategies for its management.
India’s National Obesity Registry (NOR), launched in December 2025, is designed to create a strong and reliable data base on obesity trends across the country. This data will support public health policies, research efforts, and targeted interventions to address the growing obesity burden. The initiative is particularly significant for India, given its unique challenges related to metabolic obesity and its strong links with non-communicable diseases.
While launching the registry, Dr Singh also highlighted the strong focus placed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on tackling lifestyle-related illnesses. He noted that the Prime Minister has repeatedly spoken about obesity on national platforms, reflecting a clear shift towards preventive healthcare. This approach, he said, is supported by initiatives such as FIT India, Khelo India, and programmes that encourage small but lasting behavioural changes.
The minister warned against the increasing commercialisation of obesity treatment and the spread of misinformation in this space. Referring to a PIB release, he said unscientific claims and so-called quick solutions often mislead people and divert attention from treatments backed by medical evidence.
India has seen a growing use of injectable obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Poviztra, both based on semaglutide, and Yurpeak, which uses tirzepatide. These once-weekly injections work by mimicking gut hormones that help regulate appetite and are marketed by companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. However, doctors caution that these drugs are not miracle solutions and must be combined with proper diet and physical activity. There are also concerns about their overuse at a time when obesity rates continue to rise.
According to the World Health Organisation, obesity was linked to 3.7 million deaths globally in 2024. If strong action is not taken, the number of people living with obesity is expected to double by 2030. Recently, the WHO released its first-ever guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, or GLP-1, therapies for managing obesity as a chronic and relapsing condition.
“Obesity is a major global health challenge that WHO is committed to addressing by supporting countries and people worldwide to control it effectively and equitably. Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
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A Phase 1 randomised clinical trial of a new Nipah virus vaccine, led by researchers in the US, is offering fresh hope for preventing this deadly infection. The study found that all three doses and vaccination schedules of the candidate vaccine, called HeV-sG-V, were safe and successfully triggered an immune response. These findings were published in the medical journal The Lancet.
The World Health Organization has identified Nipah virus as a high-priority pathogen because it can be fatal in up to 82 percent of cases and currently has no approved treatment or preventive vaccine. The virus is mostly seen in parts of Southeast Asia.
Nipah virus, or NiV, is mainly spread by fruit bats but can also pass through pigs and other animals. It can lead to serious illness and death, and there is currently no medicine or vaccine available to treat or prevent it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the virus is most commonly reported in Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India.
The virus can spread when:
The most effective way to reduce the risk of Nipah virus infection is to avoid contact with sick animals, particularly bats and pigs, in regions where the virus is known to circulate. This also means avoiding foods that could be contaminated, such as raw date palm sap or partially eaten fruit. Since Nipah can spread from person to person through bodily fluids, extra caution is advised when interacting with infected individuals.
A Phase 1 randomised clinical trial of a new Nipah virus vaccine has raised hopes that prevention may soon be possible. The trial showed that the vaccine was safe and produced an immune response, according to findings published on December 13 in The Lancet.
“The induction of antibodies within one month of vaccination, along with the sustained response seen with two doses, suggests this vaccine candidate could be useful both during outbreaks and for preventive purposes,” said researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, which led the study, as per NDTV,
Scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Virology in Uttar Pradesh described the results as a “milestone” in Nipah vaccine development in an accompanying editorial published in The Lancet. The Phase 1 trial involved 192 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 49.
The study found that a single dose did not produce a strong enough immune response. However, two doses were effective, with the strongest antibody responses seen in participants who received two 100-microgram doses of HeV-sG-V given 28 days apart.
The most common side effect reported was mild to moderate pain at the injection site. No serious side effects, hospital admissions, or deaths were reported during the trial. In their editorial, ICMR-NIV experts noted that the vaccine should next be tested in a larger Phase 2 trial to better understand its safety profile and determine how much protection it can actually provide.
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