EU to review some drugs containing sodium oxybate

June 20 (Reuters) - The European Union's medicine regulator said on Friday it has begun a review of some medicines that contain sodium oxybate and are used to treat alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Sodium oxybate is an active ingredient that works by calming the activity of certain cells in the central nervous system and is also used to treat narcolepsy.

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Times

an hour ago

• Times

‘RFK Jr is a disaster': Staff describe chaos in ‘anti-science' regime

For the workers of Building 21, keeping a low profile is considered the best way to survive. Zoom meetings are avoided out of fear they are being secretly recorded. Conversations about budgets and policies are held in soundproof offices, as if they were matters of national security. Many employees carry small notebooks with them, jotting down notes instead of logging them on a computer. The desks of several sacked colleagues are empty — save for the few who have left family photos and possessions behind in case a judge rules they can return. It sounds like a scene out of Nineteen Eighty-four — yet this is the headquarters of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Here, staff do everything they can to avoid the twentysomething officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) who stalk the building's corridors, said a global health specialist at Building 21, who asked that his name not be used. 'There is a constant sense that we're being watched and monitored,' the source said. 'Doge leadership are located several floors above but they have this omnipotent presence … We're counted when we swipe our badges into the building.' Ever since Robert F Kennedy Jr was appointed health secretary in February, more than 10,000 staff — many with decades of experience — have been fired. Now, the tens of thousands of health workers and scientists still employed by the US government feel like their lives have been turned upside down, according to ten current and former staff at the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), speaking to The Times. Under instruction from Kennedy and Doge, health priorities have been reset, longstanding scientific norms disrupted and thousands of research programmes cancelled because of their perceived 'wokeness', officials said. 'RFK Jr is a disaster,' said one CDC grant specialist who joined the agency within the past five years. 'He is completely dismantling things to the point where the damage is going to become irreparable.' • Tom Whipple: Trump's tragic war on science could be an opportunity for Britain Kennedy's vision to 'make America healthy again' has sparked the most significant transformation of the country's health infrastructure in generations. And the health secretary's allies argue this reform is long overdue. But in interviews with The Times, sources describe scenes of dysfunction and chaos that threaten to make America sicker. Decades-old research centres dedicated to preventing chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease are being shuttered, one source said. Another claimed that layers of bureaucracy had been added to the approval process for grants, even though Doge's stated aim is to improve government efficiency. A third source said funding was so short that staff were rifling through others' desks for stationery: 'We are literally going through the offices of our fired colleagues to scavenge supplies like paper and pens as we no longer have the ability to buy those types of things.' Asked to comment on the claims, Andrew Nixon, director of communications at the US Department of Health and Human Services, said: 'Secretary Kennedy was appointed to drive bold, necessary reforms in a system long plagued by inefficiency and complacency. 'Streamlining outdated programmes, ensuring fiscal discipline and demanding transparency are not attacks on science — they are a defence of it. Secretary Kennedy remains committed to evidence-based leadership that serves the American people — not the preservation of status-quo bureaucracies.' Kennedy's crusade to overhaul America's vaccine policies has generated the most controversy. Earlier this month he abruptly fired all 17 members of the advisory committee on immunisation practices (ACIP), a group that has reviewed vaccine trial data and advised the government on which jabs to approve for more than six decades. The former independent presidential candidate, who has claimed for years that some vaccines are unsafe and could cause autism, said the committee was hobbled by conflicts of interest. Firing its members en masse, he said, would 're-establish public confidence in vaccine science'. Days later he hired eight new advisers, including a Covid conspiracy theorist and prominent critic of pandemic-era lockdowns. Dr Charlotte Moser, one of the 17 sacked experts, said vaccines were being 'politicised' under Kennedy. 'My fear at this moment is for the health of the people of the United States if vaccines become less available,' she told The Times in her first public interview since her dismissal. She pointed to the removal of Covid-19 vaccines from the list of jabs recommended for pregnant women and children — a decision that was made last month without any input from Moser and her colleagues, and which 'does not align with the science', she said. Dr Yvonne Maldonado, another former committee member, warned that 'the firings, disruption and the chaos' of Kennedy's administration were 'incredibly damaging' and unlikely to benefit public health. 'I can't think that these downstream impacts are going to be good ones,' she said in her first public comments. month Kennedy announced 'Generation Gold Standard' — a $500 million initiative to develop vaccines using technology dating from the 1950s. Scientists fear it marks a step back from newer, more innovative vaccine technologies like the mRNA platform, which was used for several highly effective Covid vaccines but has been demonised by antivaxers, including the organisation that Kennedy once chaired, Children's Health Defence. An NIH source with knowledge of the initiative said the senior leadership had bypassed all the 'typical internal scientific review, discussions and grant-making processes' to launch the programme. The source said Kennedy was 'fixated on a link between vaccines and autism' and described the programme as a 'waste of money'. 'He's dropping half a billion dollars on God knows what,' said the NIH source, who asked not to be named because he is still working for the agency. • Meet the antivax whisperer fighting the vaccine slump Preventing chronic disease is one of the cornerstones of Kennedy's mission. In proposals that are widely supported, he has pledged to improve the quality of American produce, crack down on ultra-processed foods, detoxify the environment, diminish people's dependence on drugs and promote cleaner, healthier lifestyles. But insiders say the teams of experts needed to achieve these aims are being dismantled. 'He's shooting himself in the foot,' said a federal worker who was recently fired from the CDC's global health centre. Earlier this year the CDC's childhood lead-poisoning prevention programme was shuttered — despite one in two American toddlers showing detectable levels of lead, a neurotoxin that can cause cognitive impairments and developmental issues, in their blood. No reason was given for the programme's closure. It meant the CDC was unable to help when Wisconsin requested formal aid to tackle a growing lead-contamination crisis in its schools in March. 'Due to the complete loss of our lead programme, we will be unable to support you with this,' the CDC said in response. Kennedy later said the lead programme's 26-person team would be rehired, but one CDC source close to the situation told The Times: 'Those folks are not back yet.' It is also understood that the Prevention Research Centres (PRC) programme — a network of 20 research hubs dedicated to chronic disease prevention in poorer communities in the United States — is to be closed after its team of federal scientists was fired in April. 'They're saying that they're just going to cancel the entire programme,' a CDC source with knowledge of discussions said. Universities and clinics partnered with the PRC programme, like Georgia State University and the Arkansas Centre for Women's Health, have been 'left in the dark about what happens next, with no one available to answer their questions'. Established in 1984 and renewed last year for another five years, the programme is likely to have prevented thousands of premature deaths from obesity, addiction, diabetes and cancer. 'It's one of the country's most vital and important research programs,' the CDC source said. At the FDA, experts responsible for inspecting factories to ensure food products are safe have been hamstrung by the mass firing of project managers, administrators and communication specialists, according to one source from the agency's human foods programme. 'These are the people who keep the day-to-day operations running,' the source said. Inspectors are now expected to book flights and hotels for assignments using their own credit cards, but because it can take weeks to get reimbursed many are reluctant to travel, the FDA source said. He added that a hiring freeze and funding constraints had made it harder for laboratories to analyse samples, further slowing the inspection process. 'The erosion of the oversight will eventually result in [food producers] cutting corners, maybe not being caught as quickly,' said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. 'As a result, things are going to slip and people will get sick.' • RFK Jr and Dr Oz are on a mission to save Canadian ostriches With Kennedy unable to pursue his vision of reform amid the disruption, questions are being raised over who really is in charge of the nation's health. One source speculated that it is Russell Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, who is calling the shots. 'It's unclear to me how much RFK is actually in charge versus other Trump appointees, like Vought,' said a CDC programme co-ordinator with more than ten years at the agency. 'Kennedy clearly has certain ideas he's interested in but at this point it seems more about cutting programmes than anything else.' Despite the push to save money and improve efficiency, three sources criticised Kennedy's team of Doge officials for adding extra layers of bureaucracy to the processing of CDC grants. Every time a grant recipient wishes to make a drawdown from their funding allocation they must now fill out a questionnaire, which gets sent to Doge for final approval. Previously, grant recipients who had been meticulously assessed and cleared for funding could access their money whenever they wanted. 'It's the exact opposite of efficiency,' the CDC grants specialist said. Among staff who have been fired — but whose contracts remain in limbo as federal judges review whether Kennedy's mass terminations are lawful — many said they had no desire to return to an administration they accused of being anti-science. 'There's been a number of different steps that we could take to potentially get back into the agency and I haven't taken any of them,' said the worker fired from the CDC global health centre. 'What this administration is doing, whether it's RFK, Trump or Doge, is so antithetical to my own values that I can't work there any more.' As for those continuing to labour under Kennedy's regime, there is not much hope for the future. 'It's the perpetual anxiety, it's the lack of knowing anything that is going on. There is no plan in place,' said the global health specialist in Building 21. 'This will have real consequences for people both here in America and overseas. It breaks my heart.'

Telegraph

2 hours ago

• Telegraph

NHS could face cuts under assisted dying law, warns Streeting

NHS services could face cuts to cover the cost of carrying out assisted deaths, the Health Secretary has warned. Under the Bill passed on Friday, the NHS will be expected to carry out the assisted dying procedures. Analysis suggests that implementation of assisted dying may cost the health service close to half a billion pounds within a decade, with each death costing the taxpayer more than £15,000. Assisted dying is set to be legalised in England and Wales after a historic vote saw it voted through by a majority of 23 MPs. However, Wes Streeting – who voted against the Bill – is understood to be deeply concerned about the impact it might have on an overstretched NHS. Speaking ahead of the vote, he warned: 'There isn't money allocated to set up the service in the Bill', while stressing that the Government would respect the decision of the House. Previously, he had warned there would be 'choices and trade-offs' to make, saying 'any new service comes at the expense of other competing pressures and priorities'. Last week, the Health Secretary said the NHS was 'in a fight for its life' as he described his mission to turn the service around. A number of MPs who opposed the Bill have raised concerns that assisted dying could take resources away from patients. On Tuesday, Dame Siobhain McDonagh, a Labour MP who voted against the legislation, said it could become 'the Trojan horse that breaks the NHS', saying it would 'rob our stretched NHS of much-needed resources'. The impact assessment of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill estimates that up to 28,317 people will die by state assisted suicide within the first 10 years of rollout. This rises from 647 in year one to more than 4,500 by 2038, and could mean costs of £429 million for the NHS over the decade. The spending includes educating all health and social care staff, training the doctors and nurses involved in the assisted dying service, setting up a regulator, as well as the costs of the lethal drugs themselves. Training staff is set to be the biggest cost – especially as the service is created. This could cost up to £35.5 million in the first year if all involved got the highest level of training available with no one opting out. There would then be recurring annual costs of between £10-22 million. Staff costs could reach £72 million over 10 years, with up to seven staff working for 32 hours per assisted death, it concludes. None of the calculations include the lost productivity and knock-on effects of the work the doctors are no longer able to carry out as a result. The impact assessment puts the cost of the drugs required at around £15 per person. However, independent experts have said it is highly likely to cost more. The Government also predicts a regulator and panel to assess cases would cost up to £13.6 million every year to run. The assessment suggests that overall, the Government could save money as a result of the earlier deaths, with overall savings of more than £640 million. Some of these savings could be made by the NHS. By 2038, health services could save up to £71.5 million a year on end-of-life care, because of the savings from not providing costly hospital care for cancer. Assisted dying is now on course to be available by 2029. Adults with a terminal illness and less than six months to live will be eligible under the new law. The law passed despite widespread opposition, with opponents raising concerns over the dropping of a requirement for a High Court judge to sign off on all assisted dying cases. Critics also warned that the law would 'normalise the choice of death over life, care, respect and love'.

Telegraph

3 hours ago

• Telegraph

The best yoga mats and non-slip exercise mats tried and tested, from Lululemon to Yogi Bare

Given its transformative benefits for mind and body, the barrier for entry to yoga is low. You need very little specialised clothing or equipment – in fact, all you need is a mat, a pair of gym leggings and a water bottle. The best yoga mat will provide you with a stable, grippy surface on which to practice. There is nothing less zen than finding your hands are slipping forward in downward facing dog, or that your peaceful warrior pose isn't feeling all that peaceful because your mat won't stay in place. To maintain a consistent yoga practice, a decent mat is key. Unlike other fitness equipment such as rowing machines and treadmills, a yoga mat won't clean out your bank account – some mats are as little as £20. But not just any old mat will do – Emma Henry, an expert yoga teacher at Triyoga, says that investing in a decent model will pay dividends further down the line. 'There's nothing more frustrating in a fast-paced Vinyasa flow than slipping, so enough grip is key,' says Henry, who recommends the Liforme mat. 'There are cheaper ones available that are decent, but they might not last as long.' We've reviewed the best yoga mats in depth below and provided answers to some frequently asked questions. However, if you're finding yourself strapped for time, here's a quick summary: The best yoga mats: At a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS How to choose the best yoga mat When selecting the best yoga mat, thickness is paramount: a standard mat (around 3mm) provides a stable base for balance and flow, while thicker mats (up to 6mm) offer extra cushioning for sensitive joints or restorative sessions. The right thickness prevents discomfort and helps protect knees and wrists during prolonged poses. Material matters for both performance and sustainability. PVC mats are durable and provide excellent grip, but may not align with eco-friendly values. Natural alternatives like rubber, cork, or jute are increasingly popular, offering good traction and a lighter environmental footprint. Cork, in particular, is antimicrobial, which is ideal for hot or sweaty practices. You also need a textured and grippy material for safety, especially during dynamic or heated classes. Portability is worth considering if you travel or commute to classes; lighter, foldable mats are easier to carry but may sacrifice some comfort. Ultimately, the best yoga mat is one that balances support, grip, sustainability and convenience to suit your personal practice and values. How we test yoga mats Every mat on this list was tested through completing a series of yoga sessions and HIIT (high intenstity interval training) workouts. For the yoga sessions, I used videos by YouTube sensation, Yoga with Adriene. I took note of how thick and comfortable each mat was, which meant considering how comfortable my knees felt on the ground and how my joints felt after a heavy session. I also thought about the weight of each mat while carrying them to and from gym sessions. I looked for a soft but supportive material that wasn't slipper and, of course, a decent price. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. From running shoes to exercise bikes, all reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. The best yoga mats of 2025 1. Best Buy Yoga Mat: Lululemon The Mat Top marks for this double-sided mat from Lululemon, which offers unparalleled grip, a stable surface and plenty of support. It's unnoticeable in the best way; I felt grounded and supported, and my hands and feet didn't budge. Lululemon offers several thicknesses of mat, but I would opt for the 5mm for joint support. This mat is reversible and comes in a wide range of colours and designs. One side is smooth and the other is slightly textured, but both are made from natural rubber. It's the perfect size – a touch longer and wider than most standard yoga mats, at 180cm x 66cm. This means it offers plenty of space to stretch out. Thanks to its slightly thicker construction, I found it also makes the perfect partner to HIIT and strength workouts. Despite being thicker than most others, it's not unduly heavy, at 2.4kg. That's the upper end of what I'd consider to be an easy weight to carry, but it means that this mat excels both at home and in class. The only downside is that it doesn't come with a carry strap or bag – but that really is nitpicking. Put simply, it's a brilliant all-rounder that is more than worth the investment. Key specifications 2. Best Value Yoga Mat: Manduka Prolite Yoga and Pilates Mat The Manduka Prolite is wonderfully durable. It's favoured by The Telegraph's Boudicca Fox-Leonard, a part-time yoga instructor. Fox-Leonard says: 'For the yogi looking to find a mat that will be able to follow them on their practice journey without flaking, Manduka mats are hard to beat on quality and simplicity. They also have ethical credentials: they're non-toxic and 100 per cent latex free, with an emissions-free manufacturing process. 'While Manduka's range is overwhelming, opt for the Manduka Prolite. You'll get a mat light enough to carry (it weighs 1.8kg) without compromising on cushioning. It might prove slippy for those first few practices, but then you and your mat will be stuck to each other for life.' Manduka promises its mats are made for life, and they come with lifetime guarantees. The most durable option you can find. Key specifications Material: PVC Measurements: 80cm x 61cm Thickness: 4.7mm Weight: 3.08kg 3. Best Non-slip Yoga Mat: Liforme Original Yoga Mat Yoga teacher Emma Henry's favoured mat is the Liforme original. There's no getting around the fact that it's expensive, but this is a mat that will last for years and years. It has a uniquely smooth surface whilst still offering unparalleled grip. It is also one of only a handful to be printed with a handy alignment guide. At 185 x 68cm and 4mm thick, it's slightly larger than average, so perfect for practicing at home – however, given it weighs 2.5kg, it's not the easiest to lug to a yoga class. If you're looking for a mat to use on the move, Henry also recommends the Liforme travel mat (£99.95, Amazon). Liforme also has impressive eco credentials; their mats are made from natural rubber and eco-friendly polyurethane and are biodegradable. Key specifications Material: Rubber Measurements: 185cm x 68cm Thickness: 4.2mm Weight: 2.5kg 4. Best Yoga Mat for Allergies: Gaiam Sol Studio Select Dry-Grip Yoga Mat If you have a latex or rubber allergy, this Gaiam Dry-Grip Yoga Mat is for you – it's made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a type of plastic. PVC isn't as sustainable as the natural rubber used by other mats on this list but it has a low carbon footprint and is highly durable, so you won't need to replace your mat in a hurry. The 5mm thick mat had a good amount of cushioning and I found it soft on my joints both for yoga and HIIT workouts. The smooth top layer wicked away sweat from my palms and feet. More impressively the grippy underside stuck to the shiny fake hardwood floor in my flat which is usually slippery, without budging. At 2.1kg it's completely manageable to carry if you tend to take your yoga mat to the gym though you'll have to buy a separate bag or straps. I also love the design – the mandala in the middle of the mat is an excellent point of focus for trickier yoga positions. Key specifications 5. Best Ethical Yoga Mat: Yogi Bare Wild Forest Ever Grip Paws Yoga Mat I loved testing this mat – primarily because it's refreshingly lightweight and transportable when paired with Yogi Bare's Carry Bag (£20), and it's also easy to store as a result. Where it truly shines is its patented Ever Grip technology, which means the surface is extra grippy, durable and stain-free, while remaining as eco-conscious as ever. Having tested this mat over several weeks during both yoga and HIIT workouts, I can attest to the excellent grip and lack of marking – it still looks as good as it did out of the box. At 4mm thick, it's certainly on the thinner end of the spectrum, but I still find it supportive enough for my joints. That said, my wrists, where I have a particular weakness as a result of previous injury, would have preferred a little more cushioning. It measures 180cm x 66cm, so it's a touch narrower than the Liforme mat, but I found it to be more than spacious enough. For reference, I could easily still squat while facing sideways. Living in a small London flat, I actually appreciated the narrow form and it was plenty long enough for my 174cm height. Other small but appreciated features include the alignment and orientation guides to keep you on track during different movement types, and notes of affirmation which depend on the colour you choose – my 'desert sand' colourway told me 'you belong here', which was reassuring during a particularly gruelling ab workout. As for the sustainability credentials, Yogi Bare uses natural rubber, plant-based dyes and recycled packaging. The mats themselves are biodegradable and recyclable, with discounts on new mats offered if you recycle directly with Yogi Bare. Key specifications 6. Best Travel Yoga Mat: Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat This budget-friendly mat is available in all the colours of the rainbow, and you can't fault the grip – it's as sticky as its name suggests. I like the distinctive textured design and how light it is to carry (it weighs just 1.2kg). However, I found it slightly too sticky – it feels as if it leaves a slight residue on your hands. It also doesn't come with a strap, but given the texture, it's more than sticky enough to simply roll up and store. This would be an excellent mat for taking to a class or using on the move, but for home practices I would choose something with a smoother surface and a bigger footprint. Key specifications Yoga mat FAQs What to look for in a yoga mat You want a good grip, a thick base and high-quality material like natural rubber for support, and a light enough weight that it can be carried to and from a gym. Visual alignment markers, to help with the placing of hands and feet are also useful. There are other factors to consider, too: texture and size. 'I like a big, heavy mat for home practice, but when you're travelling you need it to be lighter,' says Emma Henry, yoga teacher at Triyoga, who uses a Liforme travel mat or Lululemon '(Un)mat' when she's on the move. She also considers the ethics of a company: 'what they're doing to support yoga teachers and what they're doing environmentally.' Consider too the style of yoga you practice – hot yoga, in which you're likely to sweat a lot, will require a mat that offers plenty of grip and is easy to clean, whereas a slower restorative or yin yoga class might require a mat that's thicker and more supportive. How to clean a yoga mat To stay on top of keeping your yoga mat clean, you should try to disinfect it before and after each session with equal parts water and white vinegar, and a dash of tea tree oil. For bigger cleans, every couple of weeks, or more or less depending on your usage, put your yoga mat in a bath or shower and give it a good scrub with water and dish soap, leave it to dry, then roll it up. Most yoga mats cannot be put in the washing machine, but check the individual instructions. How thick should a yoga mat be? As a general rule of thumb, stick to yoga mats between 4mm and 6mm. Bear in mind a thinner mat will be more portable, while a thicker mat will be easier on the joints. If you're doing more floorwork yoga, you might choose a thicker mat as well for the extra cushioning. That said, too much thickness can affect the flow of movement so it's all about finding the balance. How long does a yoga mat typically last? A yoga mat typically lasts between six months and two years, but it can depend on how often you use it and care for it. What is the best material for a yoga mat? Most standard yoga mats are made from polyvinyl chloride. Newer, more eco-friendly options include natural and recycled rubber, jute, and cotton. Can yoga mats be recycled? Polyvinyl chloride mats are the most difficult to recycle as they may contain plasticisers, UV retarders, dyes, and dirt. Rubber yoga mats and biodegradable mats are much easier to recycle. It is always worth checking with the manufacturer to be sure.