08/27/25 - #465

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• She Thought It Was Just Another Energy Drink. It Took Half Her Bodyweight and Sent Her to Rehab

• Novo Nordisk Offers Diabetes Drug Ozempic for Less Than Half the Price for Cash-paying U.S. Patients

• One-size-fits-all Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Showed Promise in Early Trial

• Dementia Often Mistaken for Normal Aging, Leading to Years of Delay

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

She Thought It Was Just Another Energy Drink. It Took Half Her Bodyweight and Sent Her to Rehab

Kim Maloney, a 49-year-old mom from Ohio, just wanted more energy. A friend suggested a small bottle of a plant-based drink called Feel Free, sold at a local CBD store. It looked like a 5-Hour Energy. She assumed it was safe.

But the drink contained kratom—a plant from Southeast Asia with drug-like effects. Kim quickly became addicted. Within a year, she was drinking 10 bottles a day. She lost her home, her marriage, and nearly half her body weight. At one point, she weighed only 70 pounds. “I was dying,” she says. Her daughter finally gave her an ultimatum. In 2024, Kim entered rehab.

Kratom is still legal in most states, often sold at gas stations or smoke shops. Many think it’s like green tea or a wellness tonic. But doctors say it can be highly addictive. Some users report effects like opioids, with harsh withdrawal symptoms—sweating, shaking, anxiety, and crushing fatigue.

People of all backgrounds have been affected. One man went $50,000 into debt. A mom in California lost custody of her son. Another woman couldn’t sleep without daily spoonfuls of kratom powder.

Now, the FDA is targeting 7-OH, a powerful compound in kratom products, to regulate it like an illegal drug. But many experts believe all kratom forms can be risky.

Kim is now rebuilding her life—one day at a time. “I’ve got my kids. I’ve got my health. I’m coming back,” she says.

Source: usatoday.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Novo Nordisk Offers Diabetes Drug Ozempic for Less Than Half the Price for Cash-paying U.S. Patients

If you don’t have insurance, there’s good news. Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic, is now offering the drug at a much lower price for U.S. patients who pay cash.

Ozempic is a weekly shot used to help control blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. It normally costs about $1,350 a month. Now, some people can get it for just $499 a month. This deal is available through Ozempic’s website, Novo Nordisk’s help program, their new online pharmacy, and the savings site GoodRx.

GoodRx says this lower price will be offered at over 70,000 pharmacies across the country.

Many people want Ozempic or similar drugs to manage diabetes and help with weight. But not everyone has insurance to cover the cost. Because of this, some people turn to cheap, unapproved versions that may not be safe.

Novo Nordisk says it wants to stop that. “Even one person using a risky knockoff is too many,” said one company leader. This new lower price is meant to help people stay on the real medicine.

The change comes after President Trump asked drug companies to lower prices in the U.S. He also suggested that companies sell directly to customers, which Novo Nordisk is now doing.

Another drug company, Eli Lilly, is doing something similar.

If you don’t have coverage but need Ozempic, this new offer could help you save money and stay healthy.

Source: cnbc.com

HEALTH

One-size-fits-all Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Showed Promise in Early Trial

A new vaccine may help stop pancreatic cancer from coming back — and it’s not personalized like most others.

In a small early trial, 25 people who had pancreatic or colorectal cancer received a new vaccine called ELI-002 2P. All had tumors with a specific gene mutation called KRAS. This mutation is hard to treat and very common in pancreatic cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy, many patients still have tiny bits of cancer in their bodies. These leftover cells can later grow into new tumors.

The vaccine uses special proteins called peptides to “teach” the immune system to find and attack these leftover cancer cells. Unlike other cancer vaccines that must be custom-made, this one is off-the-shelf and can work for many people.

In the study, about 85% of patients had a strong immune response. In two-thirds of them, the response seemed strong enough to help wipe out remaining cancer cells. A few patients had even stronger reactions and better outcomes.

After vaccination, people lived cancer-free for more than 15 months on average. That’s much longer than expected with pancreatic cancer, which usually has a very low survival rate.

This new vaccine is still being studied. A larger trial is now underway to confirm these early results. If it works, this could be a big step toward preventing one of the deadliest cancers from coming back.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Source: nbcnews.com

Dementia Often Mistaken for Normal Aging, Leading to Years of Delay

Many people with dementia wait over three years before getting diagnosed. For younger adults with early-onset dementia, it can take even longer—about four years. This is because early signs, like memory loss or confusion, are often seen as just “normal aging.”

A large study from University College London looked at data from over 30,000 people. It found that many people and doctors miss the early warning signs. Fear, stigma, and not knowing enough about dementia can stop people from asking for help. Some doctors may also delay diagnosis, especially for younger patients or those with less common types like frontotemporal dementia.

In richer countries, only about 50% to 65% of people with dementia are ever diagnosed. In poorer countries, that number is even lower.

Getting diagnosed early can help people get support, start treatment, and prepare for the future. But many health systems have problems that make this hard. These include long wait times, not enough memory clinics, and not enough doctors who know how to spot early signs. For some people, language or culture differences also make diagnosis harder.

Experts say we need better public awareness, faster doctor training, and easier access to care. If more people knew the early signs and felt safe asking for help, they could get the support they need much sooner.

Early diagnosis can lead to better care, more treatment options, and more time to enjoy life with loved ones.

Source: scitechdaily.com

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.