Every year on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day is observed. This day raises awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which is a developmental brain disorder which impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others. This condition may cause problems in social interaction and communication. The condition may also include limited and repetitive patterns of behavior.

Origin of World Autism Day

It was started in 2007, when the United Nations General Assembly designated 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day. The UN worked to promote the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for autistic individuals and ensured their equal participation in society.

In fact, over the years, progress has been made and driven in large by autistic advocates who have worked tirelessly to bring the lived experiences of autistic individuals to the forefront of global discussions.

The 2007 General Assembly resolution also highlighted the need to raise public awareness of autism.

Theme of World Autism Day

The theme for 2025 is "Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)". This goal highlights the intersection between neurodiversity and global sustainability efforts and showcases how inclusive policies and practices can drive positive change for autistic individuals worldwide and contribute to the achievement of SDG.

This year's theme and discussion also explores at the role of neurodiversity in shaping policies that promote accessibility, equality, and innovation across multiple sectors.

Significance of World Autism Day

The day aims to foster a better understanding of autism and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. The day also tries to promote awareness and acceptance and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with autism.

What Is Autism?

As per the American Psychiatric Association, ASD is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. While autism is considered a lifelong condition, the need for services and supports because of these challenges varies among individuals with autism.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one in 36 children have been identified with ASD.

Recent News Around Autism

Ramsey's Diagnosis: Recently, star of HBO's hit drama Bella Ramsey opened up about their autism diagnosis. They credited a crew member for recognizing the signs and symptoms.

Ramsey shared that they were diagnosed while filing the first season of the series.

“I’ve spoken a bit about neurodivergence before, but I always for some reason didn’t want to,” Ramsey admitted. “I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one of The Last of Us.”

While filming in Canada, a crew member who also has an autistic daughter noticed certain similarities in Ramsey's behavior and suspected that they too might be autistic. This observation was what prompted Ramsey to seek a formal psychiatric assessment, and thus leading to their diagnosis.

Ramsey also reflected on their childhood and described feeling out of place in school and finding comfort in the company of adults. They also recalled that they had experienced sensory sensitivities common among autistic individuals, such as heightened awareness of micro-expressions and body language. Ramsey also mentioned that filming in Canada's cold condition was also challenging as the heavy waterproof gear and thermals were required on the set. "It was too much stuff on my body," they shared talking about sensory discomfort.

ALSO READ: If Vaccines Don't Cause Autism-Here's What Does

CDC's Vaccine Study: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning to examine potential link between vaccines and autism. This has all come up in the backdrop of the claims by the now Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has suggested the link between vaccines and autism. This has been backed by President Trump as well.

This originated from now debunked 1998 study, which was retracted after its author, Andrew Wakefield, was found guilty of professional misconduct and barred from practicing medicine in the UK. Despite decades or research no such link could be proven, however, the claim still continues in the political and public discourse.

Kennedy, who had long been anti-vaxxer, also made numerous claims, even though studies have long debunked this theory.

Amid the ongoing measles outbreak in the United States, the state of North Carolina has confirmed its first case in 2025. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) confirmed a case of measles in a child who was visiting Forsyth County and Guilford County.

How Did The Child Fall Sick?

The child became ill while traveling to North Carolina from a region where measles had already been reported. The news is confirmed as per the NCDHHS release.

The authorities are now also asking people who have visited the below mentioned location to review their immunization records or contact a healthcare provider to ensure that you are updated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

The Locations Are:

• PTI Airport in Greensboro
• Sleep Inn, 1406 Heartland Dr., Kernersville
• McDonalds, 14000 Heartland Dr., Kernersville
• Greensboro Science Center, 4301 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro
• Ice cream shop at Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, Greensboro
• Greensboro Aquatic Center Foyer, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro
• Greensboro Partee Shack, 3712 S. Holden Rd., Greensboro
• Lowes Foods, 240 Market View Dr., Kernersville

What Are The safety Guidelines?

The NCDHHS has also recommended that anyone unvaccinated and older than one year must get the measles vaccination.

However, when it comes to lab tests, the NCDHHS recommends that it is not necessary for people who were exposed, unless they develop symptoms of measles, including fever and rash. These symptoms can start from 7 to 21 days of getting infected. “Getting vaccinated against measles continues to be the most important step we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai said. “It is important to check with your health care provider to ensure you are current with all your vaccines.”

What Is Measles?

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles is a highly contagious disease that comes with rashes and are especially prone to kids under the age of 5.

If one person gets it then 9 out of 10 people around the infected person may become infected.

Measles, also known as rubeola, is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, with at least a 90% secondary infection rate in susceptible domestic contacts. It can affect people of all ages, despite being considered primarily a childhood illness.

Measles is marked by prodromal fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and pathognomonic enanthem (ie, Koplik spots), followed by an erythematous maculopapular rash on the third to seventh day.

Who Is At Risk?

The World Health Organization (WHO), calls measles as one of the world's most contagious disease, which is spread by contact with infected nasal or throat secretions through coughing or sneezing, or breathing the air that was breathed by someone with measles. The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours.

WHO notes that any non-immune person (not vaccinated or vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected. Unvaccinated young children and pregnant persons are at highest risk of severe measles complications.

A new clinical trial has uncovered the breakthrough promise of a new weight loss medication, MariTide, that can be taken only once monthly. Amgen developed the investigational drug, and it has demonstrated remarkable weight loss outcomes up to 20% in individuals with obesity. The Phase 2 trial results, which were released in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting 2025, may be a turning point in the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes worldwide.

MariTide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a type of drug whose behavior is well-known to reduce weight and control Type 2 diabetes. It differentiates from current competitors like Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound, because it has a distinct molecular structure. MariTide contains a monoclonal antibody that means the drug can remain in the body longer. This capability makes the drug possible to give as a once-monthly injection, a major improvement over its weekly-injected counterparts.

Amgen's Phase 2 clinical trial consisted of almost 600 adults, divided into two groups: one with obesity alone and the other with obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Volunteers were assigned to take one of three dose levels of MariTide or a dummy shot. They took monthly injections for 52 weeks, and some in the obesity group started with a low dose that was increased incrementally.

The findings from the Phase 2 clinical trial of MariTide were nothing short of remarkable. Participants who had obesity but did not have diabetes experienced an average weight loss of up to 20% of their body weight after 52 weeks of treatment. Meanwhile, those who were managing both obesity and Type 2 diabetes saw an average weight loss of up to 17%. In sharp contrast, patients in the placebo groups showed only slight decreases in body weight, 2.6% for the group with obesity alone and only 1.4% for the group with obesity and diabetes. These findings highlight the great potential of MariTide as a very effective, once-a-month weight loss treatment.

These findings place MariTide on par with Wegovy and Zepbound in weight loss effects. Although Wegovy studies recorded a 15% decrease after 68 weeks and Zepbound delivered a 22.5% decrease after 72 weeks, MariTide's monthly regimen and similar effectiveness make it a strong contender.

Health Benefits of Using MariTide

MariTide is not only gaining recognition for its effectiveness at weight loss—it's also emerging as a full-range cardiometabolic therapy. Based on trial results, patients on MariTide experienced a dramatic decrease in A1c values, a key measure of long-term blood glucose control. For patients with diabetes, the medication reduced A1c by as much as 2.2 percentage points, outpacing expected decreases of 1.5 to 2.0 points with established GLP-1 therapies such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. But the advantages didn't end there. The research also observed significant reductions in blood pressure, cholesterol, and markers of inflammation, pointing to the potential of MariTide beyond the scale. These results indicate that the drug may provide an all-around solution to obesity as well as other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, making it an attractive option in the changing scenario of metabolic health treatments.

How MariTide Works?

Similar to other GLP-1 receptor agonists, MariTide has a similar action to glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that controls blood glucose and hunger. It increases the release of insulin, decreases the release of glucagon, and retards gastric emptying. MariTide differs from other drugs in that it contains a monoclonal antibody that keeps the drug in the body longer. Monthly dosing is made possible by this advance, and treatment compliance may be enhanced by less frequent injections.

Side Effects of 'MariTide' That People Need to Know

Similar to other GLP-1 drugs, side effects in the gastrointestinal tract were most frequently reported during the trial. These consisted of:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal discomfort

The side effect profile was comparable to other drugs in the same class according to the research team and largely tolerable overall. Large-scale Phase 3 trials will be important to best evaluate long-term safety and infrequent adverse events, though.

MariTide vs Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Others

If approved, MariTide would represent Amgen's foray into a weight loss market led by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Wegovy and Mounjaro have experienced explosive growth as a result of their robust efficacy results. Yet, MariTide's monthly dosing regimen and dual utility in diabetes care and weight loss may resonate with a vast patient population.

The comparisons between MariTide and existing GLP-1 drugs have not yet been conducted. Still, the early data suggests that Amgen’s candidate could stand toe-to-toe with the industry giants.

What’s Next for MariTide?

Amgen said it plans a Phase 3 clinical trial to further study MariTide for 72 weeks. If all goes well, the results of this research may lead to FDA approval and future distribution worldwide. Most analysts expect it will be at least a couple of years before MariTide is widely available, though.

With rates of obesity on the rise globally and related health issues costing billions each year, effective, affordable, and sustainable weight-loss solutions have never been more vital. MariTide's encouraging results provide a timely new alternative to an expanding stockpile of obesity-fighting weapons.

Global pharma giant Novo Nordisk launched its blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy in India, a pivotal moment in the battle against increasing obesity levels in the nation. This follows closely on the heels of Eli Lilly's Mounjaro launch in India.

Wegovy, the semaglutide-based GLP-1 receptor agonist, will be available by the end of the month across major pharmacy chains in India. The once-weekly injectable prescription drug has already changed the landscape of obesity management in the United States and Europe.

"One out of every three patients attain 20% weight loss using the increased dose of Wegovy," stated Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India. The firm has completed late-stage trials involving 3,500 people in India, indicating encouraging results in sustained weight loss.

Wegovy will come in several dosages, ranging from Rs 4,336 for 0.25 mg to Rs 26,015 for the highest 2.4 mg dose. Its price is comparable to its rival Mounjaro, which was also launched in India last month in March.

Wegovy is timely given the increasing weight problem in India. A recent National Family Health Survey reveals that 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men aged between 15 and 49 years are overweight or obese—a notable increase from past years. India, with a population of over 1.4 billion and fast-emerging lifestyle diseases, is a huge market for weight-loss medications.

The medication has already proven to be successful across the world. Clinical trials have indicated that Wegovy consumers would lose around 15% of their body weight on average, especially when combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise. For comparison, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), being a dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist, experienced close to 23% of weight loss under the same circumstances.

Novo Nordisk's launch in India is at a time of corporate leadership transition, following the recent resignation of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen. The move is said by analysts to be intended to protect market share in a competitive environment rising from Lilly competition as well as Indian generic drugmakers who are gearing up to move into the field of obesity drugs when semaglutide's patent is about to end in 2026.

Although Wegovy brings new hope to millions of people with obesity, there are warnings with the medication. The drug has a boxed FDA warning about the potential for thyroid cancer, as suggested by studies on animals. Because of this, the drug is not approved for use in someone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2).

As India joins the global fight against obesity with cutting-edge therapies, India is all set to benefit from Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which is ready to provide a new, science-driven solution for long-term weight management. The competition has already turned hot, and for Indian consumers, it could mean more options, improved results, and a new age of obesity treatment.