Multidisciplinary

Top Medical News
Bempedoic acid shows CLEAR benefits in statin-intolerant patients
Elaine Soliven, 5 hours ago
The use of bempedoic acid significantly reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with or at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease who are intolerant to statin therapy, according to the CLEAR* Outcomes trial presented at ACC.23/WCC.
PCSK9 inhibition tied to decreased psoriasis risk
Jairia Dela Cruz, 15 hours ago
Inhibition of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) pathway appears to be causally associated with a lower risk of psoriasis, regardless of the concentration levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL), according a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.
Telbivudine use during pregnancy safe, effective in HBsAG-positive mothers
16 hours ago
Use of telbivudine (LdT) during the second trimester of pregnancy helps prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus, reveals a study. In addition, treatment with LdT during pregnancy is safe in the long term for both mothers and infants.
Asian study: Few Singaporean patients opting for life-saving implantable heart regulator
Stephen Padilla, 17 hours ago
Non-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-conditional implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are effective at treating detected tachyarrhythmias after MRI, with no serious adverse effects on device function seen, reports a study.
High iron level ups risk of noncommunicable disease in adolescents
18 hours ago
A recent study in India has found a significant association between high serum ferritin (SF) and noncommunicable disease (NCD) in adolescents. Additionally, such interaction is dependent on wealth and coexisting prediabetes.
Long-term OLE boosts potential of remibrutinib for CSU
Audrey Abella, 19 hours ago
In the 52-week open-label extension (OLE) of a phase IIb study presented at AAAAI 2023, the BTK* inhibitor remibrutinib demonstrated sustained efficacy and a favourable safety profile for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).
Add-on amantadine of no help in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
23 hours ago
The addition of amantadine to standard care falls short of improving the likelihood of recovery of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study.
Special Reports
NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022
16 Mar 2023

Viatris, a global healthcare company, collaborated with the Thai Hypertension Society and the Thai NCD Collaboration Group to organize the NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022 in Bangkok on October 29th and 30th. This summit brought together nearly 300 multidisciplinary experts from Southeast Asia and India to address the unmet needs in managing two critical noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mental health disorders (MHDs) in the region.

The summit had several key objectives. Firstly, it highlighted the effectiveness of clinical data in addressing gaps and unmet needs in clinical practice. Secondly, it emphasized the importance of sharing expertise and best practices through a platform that can optimize patient care. Additionally, it discussed the challenges of cardiovascular disease and mental health disorder care in a post COVID-19 world, and the need to re-examine them.

The summit also offered valuable insights into policy and practice changes, as well as innovative digital solutions that can lead to better outcomes. Lastly, it emphasized the significance of gaining a deeper understanding of the gaps in the patient journey to enhance patient care further.

Overall, the NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022 was a highly informative and productive event, with experts collaborating to improve the management of CVDs and MHDs in Southeast Asia and India.

Optimising treatment of
erectile dysfunction with
avanafil, a highly selective second-generation
phosphodiesterase type 5
01 Mar 2023
A recent webinar on Men’s Health featured the use of avanafil – a second-generation phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The webinar was jointly organised by A. Menarini together with the Malaysian Medical Association and Malaysian Pharmacists Society.
Microbiome in balance: Harnessing the power of skin microbiota.
01 Mar 2023
During the 47th annual general meeting and dermatology conference of the Dermatological Society of Malaysia Tarun Chopra, advanced research director at L’Oréal Singapore and co-director of the joint microbiome lab between L’Oréal and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, presented an overview of the impact of skin microbiota dysbiosis on the development of skin disorders and the potential therapeutic role of microbiome-friendly products in the management of these diseases.
Should We Treat Earlier for Polycythaemia Vera (PV)?
01 Mar 2023
At the recent Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) Expert Forum, Professor Dr Claire Harrison presented a lecture titled “Unmet Need and Future Direction in Polycythaemia Vera (PV).” Harrison discussed the problems associated with PV treatment, new diagnostic guidelines for the disease and role of ruxolitinib in PV treatment. Harrison is Clinical Director and Professor of MPN, Guy’s and St. Thomas Hospital, London, UK.
The respiratory vaccination landscape
01 Mar 2023
During a symposium sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, two distinguished speakers shared their insights into the increased risks of morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in the elderly population and discussed the current vaccination landscape in Malaysia, highlighting the key role of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in overcoming vaccine hesitancy in the population.
The role of Tadalafil in the treatment of BPH and ED. Tadalafil remains a safe and effective on-demand PDE5i
for managing LU
01 Mar 2023
Dr Surayne Segaran, a Consultant Urological Surgeon, discussed the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), the role of PDE-5 inhibitors (PDE5i), its preference over alpha blockers as the first line treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and the minimal side effects of tadalafil for on-demand dosing at a Novugen-sponsored forum.
Integrated dengue control and prevention
01 Mar 2023
Dengue has become an intractable global health problem and has spread across the world in recent decades. It causes an estimated 100-400 million infections annually. In recognition of the morbidity and mortality associated with dengue, the WHO target for 2021–2030 Global Strategy for Dengue Prevention and Control is to reduce the dengue case fatality rate to0% by 2030. There needs to be a concerted agreement on dengue as a collective threat and global collaborative efforts are needed to strengthen dengue preparedness, prevention, and control. To this end, the Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) has implemented the Integrated Management Strategy for dengue prevention and control program since 2011. Dr Rahmat Dapari, a Public Health Medicine Specialist, shares his experiences in the field of public health involving current dengue control and prevention strategies.
Conference Reports
Bempedoic acid shows CLEAR benefits in statin-intolerant patients
Elaine Soliven, 21 Mar 2023
The use of bempedoic acid significantly reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with or at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease who are intolerant to statin therapy, according to the CLEAR* Outcomes trial presented at ACC.23/WCC.
Long-term OLE boosts potential of remibrutinib for CSU
Audrey Abella, 20 Mar 2023
In the 52-week open-label extension (OLE) of a phase IIb study presented at AAAAI 2023, the BTK* inhibitor remibrutinib demonstrated sustained efficacy and a favourable safety profile for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).
Add-on evolocumab improves plaque characteristics in statin-treated CAD patients
Audrey Abella, 15 Mar 2023
In individuals with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), intensifying their lipid-lowering regimen with evolocumab, a PCSK9* inhibitor, led to improvements in coronary plaque characteristics on intravascular imaging, findings from the YELLOW III trial have shown.
Lanadelumab reduces HAE attacks in children
Elaine Soliven, 15 Mar 2023
Treatment with lanadelumab given every 2 or 4 weeks (Q2W or Q4W dosing) reduces the frequency of attacks in patients aged 2 to <12 years with hereditary angioedema (HAE), according to the SPRING study presented at AAAAI 2023.
STELLAR trial offers hope for rare heart-lung disorder
Audrey Abella, 13 Mar 2023
The phase III STELLAR trial lives up to its name, delivering stellar results and offering hope for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare, progressive, life-threatening disorder affecting the heart and lungs, by adding sotatercept – a novel first-in-class activin signalling inhibitor – to background therapy.
TRITON3: Rucaparib improves rPFS in BRCA-altered mCRPC
Elaine Soliven, 10 Mar 2023
Treatment with rucaparib significantly improved radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), particularly those with BRCA alterations, compared with the physician’s choice of therapy of docetaxel or a second-generation ARPI*, according to the TRITON3 trial presented at ASCO GU 2023.
Peg lambda cuts hospitalization, ER visits in COVID-19 outpatients
Audrey Abella, 09 Mar 2023
Early treatment with a single dose of pegylated recombinant IL-29 type III interferon (IFN), otherwise known as peg lambda, significantly reduced clinical events in the phase III TOGETHER study evaluating mostly vaccinated, acutely symptomatic COVID-19 outpatients.