News & Updates

Wearable tracker fails to ease flares in SpA, but physical activity helps

A wearable activity tracker used to boost physical activity has fallen short of reducing flares and improving performance or quality of life (QoL) of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), results of a randomized control trial have shown.

Phase II data shows treatment potential of litifilimab for CLE

In part B* of the two-part 16-week LILAC study, the anti-BDCA2** antibody litifilimab reduced skin disease activity in individuals with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE).

Add-on ozoralizumab safe, effective in rheumatoid arthritis

Ozoralizumab, when used in combination with methotrexate (MTX), appears to yield significant reductions in the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) while having an acceptable tolerability, according to data from a double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase II/III trial.

ESCAPE long-term findings: Surgery still no better than PT for meniscal tears

In the 5-year follow-up of the ESCAPE trial, exercise-based physical therapy (PT) remained noninferior to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) for the treatment of symptomatic, degenerative, MRI-confirmed meniscal tears.

AZD7442 (tixagevimab–cilgavimab) prevents COVID-19 in high-risk populations

Though most COVID-19 safe management measures have been lifted in Singapore, the pandemic continues to adversely impact the lives of immunocompromised patients at high risk of severe infection. 

“It has been an absolute misery for these patients and their families,” said Dr Leong Hoe Nam, Infectious Disease Specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, Singapore. “The virus is an unseen enemy that may strike unexpectedly. The strike may kill, or if not, maim the individual. Patients isolate themselves for fear of getting infected while their family members fear bringing the illness back home.” 

Immunocompromised patients are those with suppressed immunity resulting from health conditions, including solid organ and haematological cancers, end-stage kidney and liver disease, organ or bone marrow transplants, and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, or those on active treatment with immunosuppressive medications. [Expert Rev Vaccines 2022;1-17; BMJ 2021;374:n2098]

Norwegian cheese variant may keep bone weakening at bay

Consuming Jarlsberg cheese – a type of Norwegian cheese that contains long-chained vitamin K2 and DHNA* – may help fend off bone weakening, a study from Norway has shown. What’s more, it appears to do so without adversely affecting lipid levels, even extending its benefit to glycated haemoglobin levels.

Olokizumab superior to placebo, noninferior to adalimumab for rheumatoid arthritis

Olokizumab was superior to placebo and noninferior to adalimumab in achieving ACR20 response* among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had an inadequate response to methotrexate maintenance therapy, according to the CREDO2** study.