Latest news with #ASAS
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
JAK1 Inhibitor Shows Promise for Ankylosing Spondylitis
TOPLINE: Ivarmacitinib, a highly selective Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor, tamed ankylosing spondylitis with sustained efficacy through 24 weeks in a phase 2/3 trial. METHODOLOGY: A phase 2/3 trial in China evaluated the efficacy and safety of ivarmacitinib in 504 adults with active ankylosing spondylitis who did not benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In phase 2, patients were randomly assigned to receive ivarmacitinib (2 mg, 4 mg, or 8 mg) or placebo once daily for 12 weeks; 4 mg was selected as the recommended dose based on an interim analysis. In phase 3, 373 patients (mean age, 33.8 years; 79.6% men) were randomly assigned to receive 4 mg ivarmacitinib (n = 187) or placebo (n = 186) once daily for 12 weeks, after which all patients got ivarmacitinib for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint in both phases was the proportion of patients achieving an Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) 20 response at week 12. TAKEAWAY: At week 12, 48.7% of patients who received 4 mg ivarmacitinib achieved an ASAS20 response compared with 29% of those who received placebo (P = .0001). More patients on 4 mg ivarmacitinib vs placebo achieved an ASAS40 response (32.1% vs 18.3%; P = .0011) and an ASAS5/6 response (42.8% vs 15.6%; P < .0001) at week 12, with efficacy sustained at week 24. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients receiving 4 mg ivarmacitinib had greater improvements in disease symptoms, physical function, spinal mobility, and quality of life. During the first 12-week period, treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 79.7% of patients in the ivarmacitinib group and 65.6% in the placebo group but caused few treatment discontinuations. IN PRACTICE: 'Ivarmacitinib 4 mg once daily provided rapid, sustained, and clinically meaningful improvements in disease activity, signs and symptoms, function, and MRI-detected inflammation in patients with active AS [ankylosing spondylitis] who had an inadequate response to NSAIDs, with a manageable safety profile,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Xu Liu, MD, and Liling Xu, MD, of Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing, China. It was published online on June 12, 2025, in Arthritis & Rheumatology. LIMITATIONS: The 24-week efficacy of ivarmacitinib may not reflect long-term outcomes. The absence of an active comparator limited the comparison of ivarmacitinib with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used for active ankylosing spondylitis. These findings in Chinese patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis may not be generalizable to other populations. DISCLOSURES: Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. sponsored and designed the trial. Two authors reported being employees of the sponsor company while the study was conducted. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Barnama
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
MMC Act Most Significant Reform In Journalism Landscape, Realised By MADANI Govt
LUMUT, June 15 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act, which came into effect yesterday (June 14), marks the most significant reform in the country's journalism landscape, realised under the MADANI Government. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the MADANI Government had succeeded in realising the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) after nearly 50 years of anticipation among media practitioners. 'This is the most significant reform that we (MADANI Government) have introduced. With the establishment of the Media Council, media organisations can now independently and freely deliberate on matters such as journalistic ethics and the future of the media in our country, without interference or influence from any party, including the government,' he said. 'For us, especially our colleagues in Keadilan (PKR) within Pakatan Harapan, as well as our friends in UMNO who have long championed media freedom, this has become a reality with the establishment of the Media Council,' he said. He was speaking at the Communications Minister and the MADANI Community session, held in conjunction with the Northern Zone B Akademi Asas Penerangan (ASAS) programme organised by the Department of Information (JaPen) at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL-MIMET) here today. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and JaPen director-general Julina Johan. Fahmi, at a press conference following the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 main celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) yesterday, announced that the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act would come into effect on June 14, 2025. He also announced that he would soon hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC founding board to assist in shaping the council's next steps and future activities. The three-day HAWANA 2025 celebration, which concludes today, is organised by the Ministry of Communications, with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency.
New Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MMC Act most significant reform in journalism landscape realised by Madani govt
LUMUT: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act, which came into effect yesterday, marks the most significant reform in the country's journalism landscape, realised under the Madani government. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Madani government had succeeded in realising the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) after nearly 50 years of anticipation among media practitioners. "This is the most significant reform that we (Madani government) have introduced. "With the establishment of the Media Council, media organisations can now independently and freely deliberate on matters such as journalistic ethics and the future of the media in our country, without interference or influence from any party, including the government," he said. "For us, especially our colleagues in Keadilan (PKR) within Pakatan Harapan, as well as our friends in Umno who have long championed media freedom, this has become a reality with the establishment of the Media Council," he said. He was speaking at the Communications Minister and the Madani Community session, held in conjunction with the Northern Zone B Akademi Asas Penerangan (ASAS) programme organised by the Department of Information at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL-MIMET) here today. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and Information Department director-general Julina Johan. Fahmi, at a press conference following the National Journalists' Day (Hawana) 2025 main celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) yesterday, announced that the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act would come into effect on June 14, 2025. He also announced that he would soon hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC founding board to assist in shaping the council's next steps and future activities. The three-day Hawana 2025 celebration, which concludes today, is organised by the Ministry of Communications, with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency. The date May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists' Day to commemorate the publication of the first edition of "Utusan Melayu" newspaper on May 29, 1939, honouring the contributions and services of media professionals as vital agents in shaping an informed society.
The Sun
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
MMC Act most significant reform in journalism landscape, realised by MADANI govt
LUMUT: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act, which came into effect yesterday (June 14), marks the most significant reform in the country's journalism landscape, realised under the MADANI Government. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the MADANI Government had succeeded in realising the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) after nearly 50 years of anticipation among media practitioners. 'This is the most significant reform that we (MADANI Government) have introduced. With the establishment of the Media Council, media organisations can now independently and freely deliberate on matters such as journalistic ethics and the future of the media in our country, without interference or influence from any party, including the government,' he said. 'For us, especially our colleagues in Keadilan (PKR) within Pakatan Harapan, as well as our friends in UMNO who have long championed media freedom, this has become a reality with the establishment of the Media Council,' he said. He was speaking at the Communications Minister and the MADANI Community session, held in conjunction with the Northern Zone B Akademi Asas Penerangan (ASAS) programme organised by the Department of Information (JaPen) at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL-MIMET) here today. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and JaPen director-general Julina Johan. Fahmi, at a press conference following the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 main celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) yesterday, announced that the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act would come into effect on June 14, 2025. He also announced that he would soon hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC founding board to assist in shaping the council's next steps and future activities. The three-day HAWANA 2025 celebration, which concludes today, is organised by the Ministry of Communications, with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency. The date May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists' Day to commemorate the publication of the first edition of 'Utusan Melayu' newspaper on May 29, 1939, honouring the contributions and services of media professionals as vital agents in shaping an informed society.
New Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Information Dept told to quickly relay key government policy details
LUMUT: The Information Department must disseminate information on key government policies to Madani Communities within 24 hours of their announcement, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said the move is crucial to ensure that all 1,878 Madani Communities nationwide receive accurate and verified information promptly. "So, the task I have given the Information Department is to ensure that Madani Communities become the first group to receive accurate information on any announced policy. "It's a heavy responsibility, but this is our role moving forward," he said at the Northern Zone B Akademi Asas (ASAS) programme organised by JaPen at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL-MIMET) here today. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and Information Deparrment director-general Julina Johan. Fahmi, who is also Madani government spokesman, said there is ample room for JaPen to enhance the way it communicates information to the public, adding that he has discussed with the department's management the best mechanisms to be implemented as early as next week. "I believe the District Information Offices (PPD) will certainly carry out their duties well. All of us must work very hard to ensure that the Madani Communities under our care consistently receive accurate information," he said. Earlier, Fahmi met with nearly 150 Madani Community members from Perak and Penang in conjunction with the ASAS programme. Meanwhile, in a statement, the Information Deparrment said this edition of ASAS focuses on activating social media use among Madani Communities to disseminate verified and up-to-date government information. "This focus aims to make social media a strategic tool to counter false and misleading narratives that could threaten social harmony and national stability," the statement said. The department stated that to date, a total of 373 short videos explaining various current issues have been uploaded by Madani Communities across various social media platforms as part of efforts to broaden access to accurate information. Based on a Training of Trainers (ToT) concept, it said the ASAS module was developed to ensure Madani Community members can serve as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) within their respective communities. "This includes the ability to explain current issues through social media effectively and in line with the current digital communication landscape," the statement added.
