News & Updates

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduces risk of severe COVID-19 in outpatients, regardless of vaccination status

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is effective against the composite outcome of hospitalization or mortality ≤35 days after COVID-19 diagnosis in nonhospitalized adults with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Managing COVID-19 in vulnerable adults

Despite the success of COVID-19 vaccines, immunocompromised individuals, older adults and those with comorbidities remain at disproportionately high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. This underscores the need for additional preventive measures for these vulnerable populations. At the Advances in Medicine (AIM) 2024 conference, Professor Barnaby Young from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, shared insights on current COVID-19 management practices, including the important role of antivirals, such as remdesivir (Veklury^®, Gilead), in treatment of vulnerable patients.

[Infographics] Remdesivir reduces mortality in elderly hospitalized for COVID-19 in the real world, regardless of age group or supplemental oxygen needs

Remdesivir is associated with reduced mortality among elderly patients hospitalized for COVID-19, regardless of supplemental oxygen requirements upon admission and age groups, a real-world study presented in ESCMID Global 2024 has shown.

Targeting IL-5 in hypereosinophilic diseases: From bench to bedside

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare eosinophilic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. The lack of disease awareness and heterogeneous nature of clinical manifestations have made diagnosis and management of EGPA challenging. At Advances in Medicine (AIM) 2024, Professor Hiromichi Tamaki, a rheumatologist from St. Luke’s International Hospital in Japan, discussed how EGPA is diagnosed, presented real-world evidence on mepolizumab (an anti–interleukin [IL]-5 therapy) in EGPA and illustrated mepolizumab’s clinical benefits through several patient cases.

Anti-TSLP treatment may extend care to a broad range of severe asthma patients

Inhibition of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a crucial epithelial cytokine with broad effects on airway inflammation, has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for severe asthma. At an industry-sponsored symposium during Autumn Respiratory Seminar (ARS) 2023 jointly organized by the Hong Kong Thoracic Society and the CHEST Delegation Hong Kong and Macau, Dr Hassan Burhan of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK, discussed the role of epithelial cytokines in inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and reviewed the clinical evidence supporting the use of tezepelumab, an anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody (mAb), among patients with severe asthma of diverse phenotypes. He also shared a case illustrating tezepelumab use in severe uncontrolled asthma (SUA).

Achieving low-risk status in PAH with prostacyclin receptor agonist–based triple therapy

A 72-year-old female with a history of well-controlled hypertension presented with unexplained dyspnoea and reduced exercise tolerance for the past 2–3 years.

Transforming the treatment journey for patients with early-stage EGFR-mutated NSCLC

At a symposium hosted by AstraZeneca on 20 April 2023, a panel of distinguished experts discussed the latest developments in the management of early-stage epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–mutated (EGFRm) non–small–cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Speakers included Dr Vincent Ng, who highlighted the advances in surgical interventions, and Professor Masahiro Tsuboi, who addressed unmet clinical needs in early-stage EGFRm NSCLC and potential solutions such as osimertinib as an adjuvant treatment. The symposium featured a lively debate on the utility of disease-free survival (DFS) as a surrogate endpoint and concluded with an informative panel discussion.

The role of oral antivirals in COVID-19 treatment: Who, when, and how?

Though most countries have eased pandemic restrictions, there is no room for complacency in managing COVID-19, which continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality.

At a recent symposium, esteemed experts Dr Roger Paredes, Head of Department of Infectious Diseases at the Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain, and Dr Nicola Petrosillo, Head of the Infection Prevention and Control and Infectious Disease Service at University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy, gave global perspectives on the continuing unmet needs in the COVID-19 outpatient landscape and discussed the role of antiviral treatment options in patients at risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. Dr Petrick Periyasamy, Head of Infectious Diseases Unit, Medical Department, UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, chaired the session.