Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari 1-2 in Free Practice 2 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Lando Norris’ session came to an early end after hitting the barrier.
Hamilton’s 1m 41.293s left him 0.074s clear of Charles Leclerc in the final classification as the McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri struggled for performance throughout, finishing only 10th and 12th respectively.
Even in the opening minutes the Baku run-off areas were put into use, Liam Lawson running deep at the downhill left-hander of Turn 15, with Hamilton doing the same at Turn 7 as drivers explored the limits for the second one-hour session.
Having spent a large portion of the opening session in the garage while a power unit issue was rectified, Piastri hit the track almost immediately in FP2 with the soft Pirelli tyre, posting a 1m 43.307s on his first flying lap that put him to the top of the times initially.
But the times soon began to tumble as more rubber was put down on the circuit and drivers utilised the softest compound, with Norris’ leading lap from FP1 easily beaten inside the opening 10 minutes.
After the opening flurry Norris was left fastest with a 1m 42.199s, fractionally faster than Leclerc, the Ferrari driver having taken pole position for the last four editions of the Azerbaijan GP and showing his prowess again around the street circuit, becoming the first driver to dip below the 1m 42s mark with a 1m 41.786s.
Team mate Hamilton slotted into second less than two-tenths behind before jumping to the top with a 1m 41.543s on the 20-minute mark, both laps having been achieved on the medium rubber to give teams a possible tyre conundrum ahead of Qualifying on Saturday.
Norris’ session then unravelled at the halfway point, the McLaren driver striking the wall on the exit of Turn 4 which damaged his left-rear suspension, and although the Briton was able to recover back to the pits, he remained in the garage until the chequered flag.
Just minutes later, Drivers’ Championship leader Piastri joined his team mate in the pits having glanced the Tecpro barrier at Turn 15 before being sent on his way after precautionary checks.
Meanwhile, Leclerc moved back to the top of the times with a 1m 41.367s as the Ferraris engaged in their own personal duel, Hamilton going fastest on a 1m 41.293s on the softs with just over 10 minutes left for the fastest lap of the day.
Mercedes’ George Russell finished best of the rest, just under half a second behind Hamilton, and ahead of team mate Kimi Antonelli, Haas’ Ollie Bearman, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lawson (Racing Bulls).
Esteban Ocon completed a positive day for Haas in eighth from Alex Albon, Norris and the second Williams of Carlos Sainz.
Piastri finished 12th but was placed under investigation for a yellow flag infringement to be investigated after the session, from Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber).
The order was completed by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber), the second Aston martin of Fernando Alonso and Franco Colapinto, the Alpine driver two seconds off the pace.
Having a World Championships is not a new thing for Climbing, but the IFSC Para Climbing World Championships Seoul 2025 is the first since the sport was confirmed in the Paralympic Games programme.
LA28 will be the first time a Para Climbing medal will be won, but in Seoul, South Korea this week, the IFSC has to crown its own champions and medallists.
Such is the peak in interest for the sport, new countries will compete as China and home nation South Korea register competitors for the first time and returning nations such as Hungary and South Africa are welcomed back on the world stage.
There are many returning champions from Bern 2023 who will be looking for a title defence, and one of those climbers is Brazil’s Marina Dias who has returned to strength just in time: “After falling ill last year and missing some competitions, the 2025 season has been great so far. I’ve reached the podium in every event I’ve entered, and I’ve been learning from my weaknesses, recovering from injuries, and improving my overall performance.
“I feel I’ve done everything possible to prepare for the most important competition of the year.”
Being a world champion often brings with it the weight of expectation, but how does Dias feel about it?
“I initially felt that pressure, from myself actually, after getting back to competitions earlier this year, after I had recovered from an emergency surgery in 2024, but now after a few comps I feel that what matters is the process, doing everything I can to perform at my peak. The results are a consequence.
“But of course I want to defend my title and reach the top and have been preparing for this. Winning gold again for Brazil would make me incredibly happy, and I know that it would have a significant impact for our sport in Brazil, perhaps more than it would in other countries.”
Dias came into climbing late in life only starting in 2022, but she has seen rapid progress and success, and maybe it is down to being an older athlete: “I feel that everything I have been through in my life, from getting diagnosed with a chronic illness, getting a PhD, to becoming a professor, has prepared me to handle the intense emotional pressure of competitions.
“While physical strength is essential, during the competition our mental state has a significant impact on our performance. But of course, having a full-time job also leaves me less time to train, so becoming an athlete later in life when we have a career and other responsibilities also has its trade-offs.”
There are sure to be more like Dias coming to climbing a little later and trying to rise quickly now the sport will feature at the Paralympics so Dias is a great example of what can be achieved.
But first, Dias has a World Championships to take on: “I’ve been preparing to defend my title and bring another gold medal to Brazil. Although my competitors have gotten stronger, I believe I’m in the best shape of my life.
“I hope it’s an amazing competition; it’s such a privilege to defend Brazil’s first-ever world championship title in Para Climbing and I’m really happy to represent Brazil once again.”
Representing the USA is Brian Zarzuela who, at 28, is younger that 42-year-old Dias, has been competing longer and shows the wide range of people and experience within Para Climbing.
Zarzuela was eighth in his first World Championships outing in 2019, but since then has made the podium at all World Cup and World Champs he has entered. A return of 12 medals from 13 events, although so far, the world title has eluded him.
Talking about his year Zarzuela said: “I’ve been mostly happy with my performance so far this year. After placing first in both nationals in California and the Salt Lake City World Cup, placing second at the World Cup in Innsbruck due to time wasn’t of course the result I wanted, but the goal for the year hasn’t changed. Instead, I’ve used it to fuel my training for the World Championships even more.”
About the event specifically Zarzuela said: “I feel really prepared for the World Championships. This has been a steady goal of mine since coming so close at the previous World Championships in Bern in 2023. For two years I’ve trained consistently for this moment and I’m excited to have the opportunity to show what I can do.”
Zarzuela will be pushing to compete at a home Paralympics in three years’ time, and the American has a message to all newcomers to the sport: “Anyone watching the Para Climbing World Championships, especially if it’s your first Para Climbing event, should check out the IFSC and USA Climbing for a brief breakdown of the categories competing this week. And anyone excited for LA28 should pay special attention to the who will be the ones to watch as we’re now less than three years away.”
Three years may seem like a long time, but it will come around quickly, but such is the longevity of the Para Climbing athletes we will undoubtedly see some of the winners in action when climbing makes its Paralympic debut.
Out of the 20 champions in 2023, all but two will return to try and defend their titles just like Dias.
Dias has competition from USA’s Nat Vorel in the women’s RP3 who has won the two Para World Cups in 2025. Zarzuela has to overcome current world champion Norway’s Isak Ripman in the men’s AU2.
When you look at strong teams the French have standout names like Solenne Piret, Lucie Jarrige, Aloïs Pottier and Thierry Delarue who are all current world champs in their respective categories and don’t look like letting them up anytime soon with consistent, strong World Cup showings.
Austria has rivals Angelino Zeller and Markus Pösendorfer going head-to-head in the men’s AL1 category and Jasmin Plank who will fight it out with Norway’s Dina Eivik, among others, in the women’s RP2.
Japan’s Aita Sho has five world titles in the men’s B1 and the team also boast other world champions like Hamanoue Fumiya and Takano Tadashi.
But it’s not all about the teams. The spread of countries as world champions also features Great Britain’s Abigail Robinson, Belgium’s Pavitra Vandenhoven, and Romania’s Cosmin Florin Candoi.
There are also sole entries from countries like Canada’s Kevin Bolusi, Czechia’s Frantisek Rys, Denmark’s Peter Tramm and New Zealand’s Rachel Maia who will be looking to make their mark on the podiums. It’s going to be quite a show.
The Para Climbing action starts on Saturday 20 September with the first of two sessions of qualification before finals begin on Wednesday 24 September.
Wembley Arena is facing a backlash after it staged an ‘insulting’ Trump-hating protest gig featuring Hollywood A-listers and left-wing luvvies.
Benedict Cumberbatch took to the stage alongside the likes of Paloma Faith, Damon Albarn and Richard Gere at the OVO Arena for Wednesday’s Together for Palestine show.
The sold-out rally, backed by a host of other British TV, film and music stars including Guy Pearce, Bastille and Louis Theroux, was aimed at raising cash for charities helping Palestinians caught up in the war between Israel and Hamas.
But the star-studded benefit gig, which had struggled to find a venue after others declined to host it, clashed with the opening day of Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.
And it saw criticism levelled at the US President by Pretty Woman icon, Richard Gere, who blasted ‘enablers’ of the ‘genocide’ in Gaza and said Trump had the power to ‘stop the craziness’ in ‘one day’ – which led to crowds booing the president.
‘Of course, Netanyahu has to go. All the enablers have to go, also,’ Gere said. ‘There’s one man who could stop this thing in one day. He says he can stop wars in one day, my president Trump.
‘In one day he could stop all this craziness. Netanyahu needs the US, needs Trump so badly. One day, if he wants a Nobel Peace prize this is the way to get it.’
But the show has led to a furious backlash from one of London’s top politicians, who branded the whole show an ‘insult’ to Mr Trump.
Paloma Faith was among some of the stars to appear at the fundraising gig, which was branded an ‘insult’ to President Donald Trump
Laura Whitmore speaks onstage during the Together For Palestine concert at Wembley Arena
‘They’re a damn disgrace. Whether you like Trump or not, he has been democratically elected by our neighbours the United States and we should be honoured he is here and wants to do trade deals,’ Susan Hall, Tory group leader at City Hall told the Mail.
‘This childish politics of the Left – I’ve just about had enough of it. These damn lefties couldn’t run a bath, and they certainly could run a country.
‘Doing it on the same day as the president’s state visit is meant as an insult to Donald Trump and shame on them. He’s the most powerful man certainly in the Western world and he deserves our respect… I’m livid. This is a damn disgrace.’
The show took place about 20 miles from Windsor Castle, where Mr Trump and his wife Melania had earlier been welcomed by the King and Queen as part of the American leader’s unprecedented second state visit.
The aid gig was hosted by British comedian Guz Khan, who has a history of political remarks and anti-Israel tweets, which have seen him accusing the Jewish state of ‘genocide’ and ‘ethnic’ cleansing.
The Coventry-born comic has previously come under fire after bagging a plum job of hosting Have I Got News For You despite his controversial outbursts, which included a racially-charged jibe on X about Priti Patel that led to him being dropped by Uber Eats.
News of his appearance on the BBC One panel show sparked outrage, with one Beeb staffer saying they were ‘lost for words’ he had been booked given the high probability the conflict in Gaza will be mentioned on satirical current affairs show.
Richard Gere also took to the stage as one of the A-list celebrities seeking to speak out
Former Roxy Music synth player Brian Eno was part of the team who set up the Wembley charity gig.
The 77-year-old musician previously campaigned for Jeremy Corbyn to become Labour’s leader back in 2015, releasing a series of gushing comments about the left-wing politician.
‘I’ve often been on platforms with Jeremy and thought: Don’t you have a social life? What about the coke and the orange bras and so on?’ he said at the time. ‘What I really thought was, what a great guy to be there.’
In fact, Eno is such an avid Corbynista he once bought the former Labour leader’s hat for £250.
However, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s event in Wembley, Eno admitted the show had initially struggled to find a venue willing to host the politically-charged gig.
‘I and others have been working for a year to bring the concert to life,’ he told the Guardian. ‘Even finding a venue proved challenging: the mere mention of the word ‘Palestine’ was a near-certain precursor to refusal.’
Also among those appearing at the Palestine show was Blur frontman Damon Albarn, who previously lectured music lovers about Gaza during last year’s Glastonbury festival.
During a surprise appearance at Worthy Farm alongside Bombay Bicycle Club, Albarn ranted to the thousands gathered at the 2024 showcase: ‘You have to show me how you feel about it – are you pro Palestine? Do you feel that’s an unfair war?
Harrow-educated Benedict Cumberbatch also appeared on the stage at the show
Meanwhile, Harrow-educated Cumberbatch has previously aired his liberal views, which once saw the Marvel star taking to the stage after a performance of Hamlet to rant at audiences they should donate money to Syrian refugees, ending his speech with the cry ‘**** politicians’.
And Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories who has so angered the Trump administration that it has imposed sanctions on her, received a standing ovation when she spoke.
Outside Wednesday’s show in Wembley, supporters held up huge Palestine flags, while the fans filing into the venue wore T-shirts, badges and jackets also bearing the flag and slogans in support of Palestine.
As well as music performances there were also a number of poems and speeches at the gig, which is believed to have raised well in excess of £500,000 for charity.
Pensioner Stephen Kapos, a Holocaust survivor who was grilled by police after laying flowers during a Gaza rally in March, told of the parallels he saw between the plight of Palestinians and the horrors he saw while living under the Nazi regime as a boy.
‘I know what it means to be stripped of dignity, of land, of home,’ he said. ‘That is why I remain steadfast in my commitment to the Palestinian people. Their struggle for freedom, justice and return is not separate from mine. It is a part of the same cry for humanity.’
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded Israel had ‘flagrantly disregarded’ international law and ‘orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now’.
The statement marked the first time a UN body had reached such a damning conclusion, and was ‘the strongest and most authoritative UN finding to date’, the study’s authors said.
However, Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the publication as an ‘antisemitic… distorted and false report’ and added that Hamas’s October 7 massacre in 2023 was itself ‘attempted genocide’, which had claimed the lives of around 1,200 Israelis.
Pictured are some of those in attendance at the gig in Wembley on Wednesday
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘The Together for Palestine concert at Wembley Arena was a deeply concerning display of one-sided rhetoric and inflammatory falsehoods against the world’s only Jewish state.
‘Comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany at the event constituted grotesque Holocaust inversion, explicitly recognised as antisemitic under the International Definition of Antisemitism.
‘Speakers including Mehdi Hasan and Francesca Albanese promoted baseless claims of “genocide,” while completely ignoring Hamas’ atrocities and the ongoing hostage crisis.
‘By failing to address the true origins of the conflict and by glorifying Palestinian “resistance” without condemning terror, the event gave cover to antisemitism and delegitimisation of Israel.
‘Celebrities who lent their platforms to such messaging may have intended to show solidarity with suffering, but in doing so they amplified falsehoods and fuelled hatred.’
Daily Mail has approached Legends Global, which is responsible for shows at Wembley’s OVO Arena, for comment.
For the first time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is providing its nuclear security expertise to a Formula 1 Grand Prix, supporting Azerbaijan in protecting race participants and spectators against any potential threats involving nuclear and other radioactive material at the Baku motor racing event.
The Baku Formula 1 Grand Prix, scheduled for 19 to 21 September, is expected to attract tens of thousands of spectators along the six-kilometre city circuit. During a mission this week in Baku, the IAEA supported Azerbaijan in strengthening nuclear security measures for the race, providing specific advice and recommendations.
The Baku Formula 1 Grand Prix event demands robust security measures due to its high public profile and significant media attention.
“Major events are prime targets for criminals, including the potential misuse of nuclear and other radioactive material,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “By extending our nuclear security support to the fast-paced world of motorsport, we are extending our vigilance – helping countries close critical gaps and keep the public safe.”
At the request of the Government of Azerbaijan, the IAEA team – including experts from France and the United Arab Emirates, and one IAEA staff member – advised the national authorities on nuclear security measures at Formula 1 sites in Baku. During the four-day mission, from 9 to 12 September – hosted by the State Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Activity Regulations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations – the team also met with senior officials to discuss the security measures and the use of more than 100 radiation detection instruments loaned to the country by the IAEA.
During the opening session for the mission Murad Pashayev, Head of the State Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Activity Regulations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, expressed gratitude to the IAEA for its ongoing assistance. “We reaffirm our commitment to further strengthening cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation safety and security,” he added.
The IAEA’s support for Formula 1 builds on the assistance it provided to Azerbaijan for the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku in November last year, and will also be provided for the Commonwealth of Independent States Games in November and the World Urban Forum in May 2026, both to be held in Azerbaijan. Similar support is being extended to Brazil, host of COP30 planned for November, and to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the end of the year.
The IAEA’s programme of assistance for nuclear security at major public events (MPEs) is a cornerstone of countries’ efforts to secure large gatherings with nuclear security at all levels. In total, since 2004, the Agency has provided nuclear security training and equipment for 88 MPEs in 49 countries to assist in the readiness to counteract a potential threat.
“For the last two decades, the IAEA has been at the forefront of an effort to integrate nuclear security protocols into traditional security arrangements for MPEs – an effort ensuring the safety of millions,” said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security. “Behind the scenes of events such as Formula 1, there is a consistent approach recognizing nuclear security as a fundamental element of the overall security measures, before and during the actual events.”
Requests for support in the area of nuclear security have increased in recent years, as more countries embark on or expand nuclear power programmes. The IAEA established its Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre (NSTDC) – the world’s first international training centre dedicated to enhancing global nuclear security – in 2023 in Seibersdorf, Austria. The NSTDC offers a unique suite of training to experts from around the world, including on nuclear security measures for MPEs.
Reaching lengths of up to 2.5 metres and equipped with powerful jaws, wolf eels are one of the ocean’s most formidable-looking animals.
Despite their name, these long, serpentine fish are not true eels but members of the wolffish family.
They can be found all along the west coast of North America and west to Russia and the Sea of Japan, spending most of their time in caves and cracks in the rocks, waiting for prey to pass by before striking.
They eat urchins and shellfish, particularly crabs – as proven by this dramatic video captured by a diver at Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island in Canada.
A wolf eel crunches on a crab at Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island. Credit: Getty
Divers lucky enough to spot a wolf eel often describe them as “curious, puppy-like creatures” – their strong jaws are built for crunching prey, but they are not dangerous to humans.
Top image: wolf eel filmed in 2013 at Telegraph Cove, British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Getty
More amazing wildlife stories from around the world
Noah Lyles became the second athlete in history to win four straight men’s 200m titles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Friday (19 September).
Lyles stormed to gold in 19.52 to join Usain Bolt as the only two to accomplish the feat (2009 to 2015).
Lyles had to hold off Kenneth Bednarek (19.58) in a US one-two. Jamaica’s Bryan Levell filled out the podium in a personal best of 19.64.
A recently discovered enormous source of niobium — a metal that’s essential for much of today’s technology — appears to have formed when the supercontinent Rodinia ripped apart around 830 million years ago, according to a new study.
The niobium-rich carbonatites, which could be one of the world’s largest sources of the metal, have come from deep within the Earth’s mantle, scientists reported in a study published Sept. 2 in the journal Geological Magazine.
Niobium is a silvery, corrosion-resistant metal with superconducting properties, making it key for strengthening steel and for use in devices such as MRI scanners and particle accelerators.
Currently, 90% of the global supply of niobium is extracted from a single mine in Brazil, with the other 10% coming from a Canadian mine. Understanding how, where and when these massive Australian sources formed can help to find new deposits, study co-author Maximilian Dröllner, a sedimentology researcher at the University of Göttingen in Germany, told Live Science.
Although small amounts of niobium can be found encased in various types of rock, the quantities required for economic and industrial extraction are primarily sourced from carbonatites — crystalline rocks that consist mainly of magmatic carbonate.
Carbonatites are “a bit like a treasure box,” Dröllner said, because they harbor important metal resources and rare earth elements encased within minerals, Their exact compositions vary depending on where the magma originated inside Earth.
Related:What is the rarest mineral on Earth?
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Carbonatites are generally only found beneath Earth’s surface. But because the surface doesn’t reveal what’s buried deep below, exploratory drilling and core extraction are the only ways to know for sure.
The two new niobium-rich deposits in Australia’s Aileron Province — called Luni and Crean — were unearthed during such campaigns by the mining companies WA1 Resources Ltd. in 2022 and Encounter Resources in 2023. The Luni deposit has an estimated 200 million metric tons of niobium, and the smaller Crean deposit has around 3.5 million metric tons.
The companies used diamond core drills to extract long, cylindrical sections of material from each site. Dröllner and his team then took eight samples from three Luni drill cores and two samples from a single Crean drill core.
They took a thin slice of each sample from the areas that appeared to have the most diverse mixes of minerals and textures, which allowed the researchers to tap into the geological story of the rock.
Then, they used a Selfrag machine to fire a series of lightning bolts at the remaining chunks. This caused the rocks to shatter along the boundaries of each mineral grain. Next, they placed these grains under a microscope and a mass spectrometer to get an age for rocks.
By looking at the ratio of different isotopes with their decay products, the research, which was partially funded by the mining companies involved, found that the carbonatites, including the niobium mineralization, formed around 830 million to 820 million years ago.
The analysis also revealed a “clear mantle fingerprint,” Dröllner said, which indicates that the carbonatite magma came from Earth’s mantle rather than from the crust. Both deposits seem to have come from the same source, with a fork in the pipe of the internal plumbing system channeling the magma to each spot.
The team linked the rupture of the supercontinent Rodinia to these deposits. When the supercontinent was pulled apart by the movement of the tectonic plates, Earth’s crust thinned at the newly formed junctures, granting the planet’s innards easier access to the surface. An analysis of helium isotopes showed that the Luni deposit was within touching distance of the surface around 250 million years ago.
Anthony E. Williams-Jones, a professor of geology and geochemistry at McGill University in Montreal who was not involved in the study, said this is very high-quality research. However, he noted that because the researchers only examined drill cores, there is no information on the extent of the deposits and what they look like over the whole area.
Dröllner said more research is needed to construct a three-dimensional map of the deposits, which will eventually allow this niobium to be extracted. Nonetheless, this new understanding of how the Luni and Crean niobium deposit formed will help to create a checklist for identifying likely other spots rich in the metal, he added.
Colorectal cancer is the world’s second deadliest cancer. It’s treatable if caught early, but colonoscopies, the main way to detect it, are expensive and uncomfortable, so many people delay getting checked.
That delay often means the cancer is found late, when treatment options are fewer and less effective. This makes it urgent to develop easier, less invasive ways to diagnose it, especially since cases are mysteriously rising among young adults. Researchers know gut bacteria are linked to colorectal cancer, but applying this knowledge in real-world medicine is challenging. Why?
Because even bacteria from the same species can behave differently, some may fuel cancer, while others do nothing at all.
Researchers at the University of Geneva have pulled off something remarkable: using machine learning, they mapped every human gut bacterium down to its subspecies. Why does that matter? Because this ultra-detailed inventory lets researchers understand which microbial subgroups actually influence our health, and which ones might be waving red flags for diseases like colorectal cancer.
We all have different gut bacteria
The twist? Instead of relying on invasive colonoscopies, they used this bacterial map to detect cancer from simple stool samples.
Mirko Trajkovski, full professor in the Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism and in the Diabetes Centre at the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine, who led this research said, “Instead of relying on the analysis of the various species composing the microbiota, which does not capture all meaningful differences, or of bacterial strains, which vary greatly from one individual to another, we focused on an intermediate level of the microbiota, the subspecies.”
“The subspecies resolution is specific and can capture the differences in how bacteria function and contribute to diseases, including cancer, while remaining general enough to detect these changes among different groups of individuals, populations, or countries.”
Matija Trickovic, a PhD student, helped create a smart new way to analyze vast amounts of gut bacteria data. His team built the first detailed list of all the tiny bacterial subgroups living in our gut, and figured out how to use that list for both science and medical tests.
By combining this bacteria catalogue with real patient data, they built a model that can spot colorectal cancer just by looking at the bacteria in a stool sample, without the need for invasive tests.
Their method found 90% of cancer cases, almost as accurate as colonoscopies (which detect 94%) and better than any other non-invasive test available today.
With more patient data, this tool could become even more precise. It might become a regular screening method, helping doctors catch cancer early and only use colonoscopies when truly needed.
Researchers are teaming up with Geneva University Hospitals to run a clinical trial. They aim to assess the effectiveness of their method in identifying various stages of colorectal cancer and the types of lesions it can detect.
By zooming in on tiny differences between bacterial subspecies, researchers are starting to understand how gut bacteria affect our health. That means this same technique could be used to create simple, non-invasive tests for many other diseases, all from one stool sample.
Journal Reference:
Matija Tričković, Silas Kieser, Evgeny M. Zdobnov et al. Subspecies of the human gut microbiota carry implicit information for in-depth microbiome research. Cell Host & Microbe. DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2025.07.015
Essential medicines are those that treat priority healthcare needs and are made available and affordable to the public. The World Health Organization (WHO) pioneered this list with around 200 medicines, and almost fifty years later, the list is only growing, with over 500 drugs making the cut to help meet the medical needs of people across the world. This year, GLP-1 agonists, which have gained a lot of buzz in recent times for treating metabolic conditions, were added to WHO Essential Medicines List, in hopes that this could make them more accessible.
How does the addition of GLP-1 drugs to the WHO essential medicines list affect prices?
While GLP-1 agonists were already on the map before, as they became popular for their effectiveness in treating type 2 diabetes and significantly promoting weight loss in obesity, their inclusion in the WHO essential medicines list clears the path towards equitable access. These drugs roughly cost around $700 to $800 per month in the U.S., according to UChicago Medicine.
“Essential medicines treat the priority healthcare needs of the population, and by their inclusion on the essential medicines list, the WHO signifies that global access is key,” said Amy C. Reichelt, neuropharmacologist and senior consultant at the biotech consultant firm Cade Group.
“Due to this move, the WHO is recognizing the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists beyond just the management of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes but extending their recognition of their benefits on body weight and adiposity, heart, and kidney outcomes in high-risk type 2 diabetes,” said Reichelt.
The main GLP-1 that has been introduced is semaglutide, famed for being the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, developed by Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk. It is prescribed to adults with type 2 diabetes who also have obesity and comorbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases or chronic kidney diseases.
Semaglutide works like any GLP-1 agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone that is produced by the proglucagon gene in cells of the small intestine. These cells line the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and express hormones like GLP-1 and peptide YY (PYY), both linked to appetite.
The hormone binds to its receptor, which is expressed in various cells, including in the pancreas, kidneys, heart, and skin. This hormone boosts insulin production in the body. But in people with type 2 diabetes, the insulin response is impaired.
So, by mimicking the hormone to stimulate insulin production in the body, diabetes can be better managed, which is what GLP-1 agonists do. When blood sugar levels increase, say, after a meal, these drugs can lower the blood sugar by causing the body to generate insulin, thereby controlling type 2 diabetes. They also suppress appetite and heighten feelings of fullness by sending signals to the brain that regulate hunger and satiety, aiding in weight loss.
“Metabolic disease is a spectrum with obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes all interconnected. The WHO’s recognition may focus on type 2 diabetes, but it’s the first step toward broader use of these therapies across metabolic health. Hopefully, this will drive policy changes, lower prices, and expand access, while also marking an important shift: seeing obesity as a disease that deserves proactive, evidence-based treatment.”
While semaglutide is the most prominent of them all, dulaglutide and liraglutide, as well as the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist – GIP plays a similar role to GLP-1 – tirzepatide, present in Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, also join the list as “therapeutic alternatives.” Even biosimilars, which are drugs that are highly similar to biologics with regard to their quality, safety, and efficacy, were listed.
Hayley Miller, medical director of California-based Nurx Weight Management, thinks that the WHO is sending a clear message that governments and health systems need to prioritize access.
“Hopefully, this will help to bring prices down, support local production, and expand availability. In time, it could make these life-saving treatments more affordable and available to the patients who need them most,” said Miller.
Echoing these thoughts, Reichelt explained that this can nudge countries to add to their own roster of essential medicines. More than 150 countries have national essential medicines lists framed around the WHO Model List. Once a drug is on the list, countries are more likely to tender for it, negotiate prices, and budget for it, especially in primary care.
“While listing doesn’t cut prices by itself, it’s the key policy domino. The WHO’s 2025 update also explicitly frames price and generic competition as priorities to expand access to GLP-1/GIP therapies, which encourages payers and manufacturers toward affordability deals,” said Reichelt.
Diabetes care to ramp up in low- and middle-income countries
Around 830 million people across the globe live with diabetes, according to the WHO in 2022. This is more than four times the figures back in 1990. And its prevalence has only been soaring; more rapidly so in low- and middle-income countries.
So, the need for cheaper options remains critical, now more than ever. And although the WHO stopped short of adding GLP-1 agonists to treat obesity alone to the list, they can be prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes associated with obesity. Obesity is the chief risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, as excess body fat leads to insulin resistance. When the body doesn’t respond well to insulin, this results in high blood sugar, a typical hallmark of type 2 diabetes.
According to Diabetes UK, around 90% of people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are obese or overweight. The WHO plans to back the use of GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity in adults for the first time, it had declared in a memo earlier this year, in a separate decision from their feature in the essential medicines.
“Metabolic disease is a spectrum with obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes all interconnected. The WHO’s recognition may focus on type 2 diabetes, but it’s the first step toward broader use of these therapies across metabolic health,” said Miller. “Hopefully, this will drive policy changes, lower prices, and expand access, while also marking an important shift: seeing obesity as a disease that deserves proactive, evidence-based treatment.”
The WHO essential medicines list has long been a champion for equitable healthcare access and removing financial barriers in several countries. When medicines to combat AIDS were added to the essential medicines list in 2002, it was regarded as a breakthrough in the “prevention through care” public health strategy at the time. Increased access to antiretrovirals – medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections like AIDS – has seen a dramatic fall in AIDS-related deaths – by 69% since its peak in 2004 until now – a major victory for the community. Now, 77% of people living with HIV have access to care.
Similarly, hopes run high for the likes of semaglutide being added to the list.
Do GLP-1 generics stand a chance?
“High prices of medicines like semaglutide and tirzepatide are limiting access to these medicines,” the WHO has stated. Now, generics have a swifter way into the market. Generics are affordable versions of medicines that contain the same active ingredients and are as effective as the original versions.
Indian generic developer Dr Reddy’s Laboratories proposed to launch the cheaper copycat versions of Wegovy and Ozempic in 87 countries next year. Aside from facilitating access, many drugmakers want a piece of the pie, as the global obesity therapies market is expected to hit $150 billion in sales over the next decade.
However, it will not be easy, as patents for these medicines have not expired yet. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories was slapped with patent infringement by Ozempic developer Novo Nordisk this year. The semaglutide drugs are protected by patents, and in countries like the U.S., those patents don’t expire until 2031. So, generic entry into the American market will have to wait. However, in China, Canada, and Brazil, copies can make their way in from next year, explained Reichelt.
“Listing on the WHO essential medicines list adds pressure for price negotiations and may encourage local manufacturers where patents allow. Mounjaro and Zepbound patents in the U.S. run to around 2036, so broad generic entry is further out; Essential Medicines List status won’t override that, but it can catalyze tendering and price deals in the meantime,” said Reichelt.
New GLP-1 agonists beat Ozempic and Wegovy in studies
And of course, generics development aside, biopharmas are creating more GLP-1 agonists that could outperform Ozempic and Wegovy. Dual and triple agonists, such as retatrutide, which targets GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon – a hormone that raises blood sugar – are in the clinic. They are “delivering very large weight-loss signals in trials,” pointing to broader metabolic indications, Reichelt noted.
Moreover, small molecule GLP-1s like orforglipron have demonstrated superiority to semaglutide in late-stage clinical trials. Reichelt believes that this “could simplify manufacturing and scale.”
Eli Lilly’s candidate orforglipron lowered A1C – a common blood sugar test for diabetes – by 2.2% compared to 1.4% with oral semaglutide at the highest doses in a head-to-head trial, the company announced two days ago.
“Head-to-head trials are a gold standard for comparing potential treatments,” said Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health. “At the highest dose, orforglipron helped nearly three times as many participants reach near-normal blood sugar versus the highest dose of oral semaglutide. These results, combined with orforglipron’s once-daily oral dosing and broad scalability, reinforce its potential as a foundational treatment for type 2 diabetes.”
Besides, combination drugs like CagriSema hit phase 3 goals – although not as impressive as hoped. The Novo drug is made up of semaglutide and the amylin analog cagrilintide, and has the potential to be yet another breakthrough in diabetes care.
Now, GLP-1s are being trialed in type 1 diabetes studies and for treating cardiovascular diseases. With these drugs flooding the market as well as their addition to the WHO list, development costs could come down. And while this class of therapies failed to secure a spot on the WHO list two years ago, they are now joined by the CFTR modulator Trikafta for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, as well as the blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda. The developers of both these drugs, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Merck, have previously received backlash for the high price tags on these therapies.
With the entry of GLP-1 agonists into the WHO essential medicines list, curtailing prices will become a priority – although cheaper generic alternatives seem unlikely at the moment.
Miller expressed that this represents a significant shift in the global health community’s approach to metabolic diseases. “[It] further proves that GLP-1 therapies have transformed the treatment landscape for conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.”
She said: “This acknowledgment confirms that these therapies are not optional but rather essential, life-saving treatments. It also emphasizes that addressing metabolic health is crucial for reducing chronic diseases worldwide, making access to these treatments a global health priority.”
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