TauRx said new data showed that its trial drug to combat Alzheimer ’ s disease had “ sustained benefits ” across the disease spectrum from early to moderate dementia . The new 24-month data from the third phase of the socalled LUCIDITY trial of hydromethylthionine mesylate ( HMTM ) showed “ significantly ” reduced disease progression in participants , TauRx said in a statement .

In the early disease subgroup , there was a “ significant reduction ” in transition to the dementia stage of Alzheimer ’ s disease . Within the subgroup , the progression of symptoms to the dementia stage of the disease was “ significantly less ” than in the control group .

TauRx Chief Executive Officer Claude Wischik said : “ The new data showed that benefit could be maintained over 24 months and highlighted the importance of starting HMTM treatment early in the disease process .”

The latest results followed an earlier clinical trial completed in June 2023 that compared changes over 12 months in cognitive , functional , and brain atrophy outcomes at various HMTM doses .

In a research note , Maybank Investment Bank said the trial appeared to show that HMTM was eligible for fast-track consider-

AFTER a six-year hiatus , Institute Jantung Negara ( IJN ) conducted two heart transplants in January and February . The fortunate two patients to receive a new lease of life were Muhammad Farhan Irfan Mohd Razif , 20 and Danielle Kang Yu Xin , 18 .

IJN reaffirmed its commitment to advancing treatments for heart failure and raising awareness of organ donation .

Both teenagers suffered from nonischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy , a condition that weakens the heart muscle . They faced the risk of heart failure due to the heart ’ s inability to pump blood efficiently .

One of the patients waited anxiously for eight months on the transplant list before finally receiving a new heart in January . Shortly after , an 18-year-old patient arrived at IJN in deteriorating health .

In just over a month , the patient underwent a Left Ventricular Assist Device ( LVAD ) implantation on Jan 15 , a procedure that assists heart function while awaiting transplantation . Remarkably , a suitable heart donor was found a mere five days after the LVAD implantation , leading to a transplant on Feb 20 .

IJN is the sole facility in Malaysia offering heart and lung transplantation and mechanical heart implantation . Since pioneering heart and lung transplants in 1997 and 2005 , respectively , followed by Malaysia ’ s first mechani-

cal heart implantation in 2005 and heart-lung transplant in 2007 , IJN has performed 29 heart transplants , six lung transplants , six heart-lung transplants , 36 LVAD implantations and seven LVADto-heart-transplant procedures .

IJN Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim expressed pride in the recent successes , especially amidst a hiatus in transplant surgeries due to organ donor shortages .

“ This success is also a testament to the strength of our community . We ’ re grateful to the various parties who have helped us transform the lives of these young patients , including the Ministry of Health ( MoH ), the National Transplant Resource Center ( NTRC ), the Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba ) as well as the Royal Malaysian Police ( PDRM ).”

ation by regulators such as the US Food & Drug Administration ( FDA ), which had an accelerated approval programme .

Drug companies requested for “ Fast Track ” designation , and the US FDA would review and decide on the request “ based on whether the drug-filled an unmet medical need in a serious condition ”, according to the regulator ’ s website .

Maybank , which had a “ buy ” call on Genting , valued TauRx at US $ 1 billion with a 60 per cent discount , accounting for nine sen out of its current target price of RM5.73 .

The research house added that Genting ’ s target price could rise to as high as RM9.40 under a blue-sky scenario , where HMTM was approved and TauRx was valued at US $ 15 billion ( RM70.3 billion ) without a discount . Founded in Singapore in 2002 , TauRx mainly operated out of the UK .

While these two latest heart transplants highlight IJN ’ s strength in managing complex heart cases , IJN also highlighted the urgent need for increased organ donor participation in Malaysia . Currently , 22 patients at IJN await suitable donors for life-saving transplants .

IJN Chairman Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah acknowledged the MoH ’ s support for IJN ’ s Heart , Lung Transplant and Mechanical Heart Programme , which has benefited 77 patients .

“ We hope that this collaboration continues to help us offer life-saving opportunities for even more patients , and greatly welcome potential partnerships with the corporate sector for this cause .”

HUMAN papillomavirus ( HPV ) is the primary cause of cervical cancer . Despite being a preventable disease , cervical cancer ranked as the fourth most frequent cancer among women and the second most frequent cancer among women aged 15 to 44 in Malaysia .

In line with the International HPV Awareness Day 2024 campaign spearheaded by the International Papillomavirus Society ( IPVS ), GSK has committed to taking a stand against HPV in Malaysia through collaborative efforts with various stakeholders .

The International HPV awareness campaign aimed to educate the public about the infection and its associated cancers , which could have been prevented through screening and vaccination , making it ‘ One Less Worry ’ for the world .

GSK Malaysia Country Medical Director Dr Alap Gandhi said : “ Malaysia ’ s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer through its proactive pioneering initiatives is exemplary in the fight against this preventable disease . Since 2010 , GSK has demonstrated its commitment to take a stand against HPV in Malaysia .”

Prof Dr Jamiyah Hassan , Senior Consultant in O & G and Feto-Maternal Medicine , Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah , UiTM Puncak Alam , Faculty of Medicine , UiTM Sg Buloh Campus , said : “ Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in Malaysia . WHO has called for a global reduction of cervical cancer by 2030 to below four per 100,000 women . Cervical cancer has a clear causation from HPV .

“ With effective means for HPV prevention and a sensitive HPV screening test , cervical cancer stands out as a highly preventable disease . Regular screening of the cervix for HPV infections is crucial for early detection of precancerous disease to allow early treatment to stop progression to advanced stages .”

HPV encompasses a collection of viruses primarily associated with sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ). With over 150 strains , HPV infection is practically inevitable for most individuals , often occurring without noticeable symptoms .

While many cases clear up naturally as the body ’ s immune system combats the infection , certain HPV strains can lead to various health issues , such as skin warts and potentially cancer , if left unchecked .

Pap smears are recommended annually for women aged 21 to 29 for the first two years , followed by screenings every three years . Subsequently , individuals under age 65 should undergo screening every five years .