News & Updates

Patients with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) show increased virologic and biochemical responses with longer bulevirtide (BLV) treatment for over 96 weeks, with no new safety concerns, as shown in a study presented at CROI 2024.

The first-ever Pharmacist Healthcare Leadership Forum, organized by the Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy Chapter of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society and supported by MIMS as the media partner, was a resounding success. 

The Academy of Medicine Malaysia (AMM) and the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), recently organized a Liver Cancer Awareness Day in conjunction with World Cancer Day 2024. The public event was aimed at bringing the university closer to the community. 

Malaysia is facing a significant demographic shift, with forecasts indicating that by the year 2040, around 15 percent of the population will be aged 65 and above. This growing segment of the population faces a critical challenge—age-related muscle loss, which is detrimental to the pursuit of healthy aging. Presently, one in three adults over the age of 60 suffers from reduced muscle mass, adversely affecting their strength and overall health. 

Ocrelizumab, a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is now available in Malaysia. The molecule is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). It targets CD20 marker on B lymphocytes and is an immunosuppressive drug.

People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have greater odds of dying by suicide, and this association is consistent in men and women, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) comprehensive analysis of lung cancer trends in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2021 reports an increase in crude incidence, a decline in age-standardized incidence, and an increase in survival rates, which, however, remained <40 percent at 5 years.   

Older patients with focal structural epilepsy are more likely to experience swallowing problems after seizures, according to a study.

Mirtazapine, biperiden, and vitamin B6 are all beneficial in the treatment of antipsychotic-induced akathisia (AIA), with vitamin B6 having the best efficacy and tolerability profile, according to the results of a meta-analysis.