Are peptides the next GLP-1? The market says yes. Science is less certain

Reviewed by Dr Dan Reardon, NHS A&E doctor with a specialist interest in metabolic health. Published 23rd April 2026. Most peptides being sold in the wellness market today have not been through the clinical trials required to prove they produce a meaningful effect in humans. A small number (most notably the GLP-1 class and the…

ByJon LipseyApril 23, 20260Comments

HEALTH Vanguard

Life Biosciences Raises $80m To Advance Cell Reset Therapy

Life Biosciences has raised $80 million in a Series D round to fund the clinical development of its lead therapy, ER-100, and expand its broader platform targeting the biology of aging. The capital will support a Phase 1 human trial already underway in patients with optic neuropathies, including glaucoma and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.…

ByJon LipseyApril 15, 20260Comments

HEALTH Explainer

What is epigenetic reprogramming and why does it matter?

Epigenetic reprogramming is a biological process that modifies how genes are expressed without altering the underlying DNA sequence, with the goal of restoring cells to a more youthful functional state. At its core, the concept is simple but far-reaching: ageing is not only driven by genetic mutations, but by accumulated changes in how genes are…

ByJon LipseyApril 15, 20260Comments

HEALTH Obesity crisis

Eli Lilly advances retatrutide to Phase 3 to expand next-generation multi-hormone obesity therapeutics

Eli Lilly is progressing its experimental obesity and type 2 diabetes drug retatrutide into Phase 3 trials, following late-stage data showing significant weight loss and metabolic improvements. Retatrutide belongs to a new class of drugs known as triple agonists, targeting three key metabolic pathways simultaneously. In earlier trials, the drug demonstrated weight loss outcomes exceeding…

ByJon LipseyMarch 26, 20260Comments

HEALTH Explainer

What biological dentistry is and how it connects oral health to systemic disease

Biological dentistry is an approach to oral healthcare that views the teeth, gums, and jaw as part of an interconnected biological system, where dental materials, infections, and procedures can influence systemic health through immune, neurological, and inflammatory pathways. That definition captures a shift that is still under-recognised in mainstream care. Conventional dentistry has historically focused…

ByJon LipseyMarch 24, 20260Comments

HEALTH Explainer

What are AI health assistants and how do they work?

A new category is emerging at the intersection of artificial intelligence, wearable technology, and digital health: the AI health assistant. For years, digital health tools focused on collecting data. Fitness trackers counted steps. Smartwatches measured heart rate. Health apps logged sleep or nutrition. The missing piece was interpretation. AI health assistants aim to fill that…

ByJon LipseyMarch 23, 20260Comments

HEALTH Explainer

Symptoms of hidden dental infections and why they are often missed

Hidden dental infections are chronic, low-grade infections in the teeth, surrounding tissues, or jawbone that often produce minimal local symptoms but may contribute to systemic inflammation and ongoing health issues. They challenge one of the most deeply held assumptions in dentistry: that pain equals problem, and absence of pain equals health. In many cases, that…

ByJon LipseyMarch 9, 20260Comments

HEALTH Explainer

Root canals and autoimmune disease: what the science says

Root canals and autoimmune disease are often linked through theories of chronic inflammation and immune activation, but current scientific evidence does not establish a clear, direct causal relationship. This is one of the most contested topics in modern dentistry. Biological dentistry often treats root canal-treated teeth as potential contributors to systemic illness. Conventional dentistry, by…

ByJon LipseyFebruary 20, 20260Comments

HEALTH

The pill made from someone else’s microbiome

Gut health firm Viome has announced a partnership with Microsoft to build an AI infrastructure for the human microbiome - a move that could mark the next frontier in personalised health. At first glance, it sounds like a routine tech deal. In reality, it’s a major step toward programmable biology. Inside the partnership Viome’s goal…

ByJon LipseyFebruary 6, 20260Comments

HEALTH Obesity crisis

Metabolic ill health will cost the global economy trillions

McKinsey Health Institute recently released a 59-page report on global metabolic health — and the numbers are impossible to ignore. Around 900 million adults worldwide are obese, and more than 20 chronic diseases, from diabetes to dementia, are directly linked to obesity. The economic impact is equally severe: $2.76 trillion in GDP could be wiped…

ByJon LipseyFebruary 1, 20260Comments

HEALTH

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