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A delegation from Dubai Health Authority (DHA) visits Moro Hub
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) welcomed a high-profile delegation from Dubai Health Authority (DHA), spearheaded by HE Awad Al Ketbi, Director General of DHA at Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions LLC), a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of DEWA. The visit aimed to offer deep insights into Moro Hub’s advanced technologies, as well as enhance cooperation between the two parties.
The visit was attended from MORO Hub side by Eng. Marwan Bin Haidar, VC & Group CEO of Digital DEWA, Matar Al Mehairi, Board Member of Digital DEWA, Mohammad Bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub; along with Chief Information Security Officer of DEWA and Moro Hub, Dr. Ahmed Al Ketbi. The high-profile delegation from Dubai Health Authority comprised of Dr. Alawi Alsheikh, Deputy Director General, Saleh Al Hashimi, CEO Dubai Health Insurance Corporation, and Ahmed Al Nuaimi, CEO of Joint Corporate Support Services.
“Moro Hub works as per the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to position the UAE as a leader in digital solutions. As such, our services are designed and developed to help government and private organisations in their digital transformation journeys. Backed by artificial intelligence (AI), cloud and the internet of things (IoT), among others, Moro Hub’s next-generation digital services are focused on customer success and play an integral role in the digital transformation journey of the UAE and the Middle East,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.
“Dubai has established its leading position in anticipating the future. It is at the forefront of cities that anticipate and shape the future through government plans and strategies. These include the UAE Centennial 2071 that aims to make the UAE the world’s leading nation. Moro Hub’s services are in alignment with Dubai’s 10X initiative, which aims to position the emirate 10 years ahead of other cities worldwide. We are confident that these services will have an instrumental focus in DHA’s digital journey, as well as position Dubai as the smartest city in the world,” added HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.
HE Awad Al Ketbi applauded Moro Hub for its endeavours to bring a positive digital transformation in the UAE. He said, “Moro Hub has been at the forefront of organisations that are exerting relentless efforts to contribute to the digital journey of the UAE. The company and its data centres have achieved a series of significant achievements in the digital arena through offering a series of world-class services. We underscore the value and importance of the collaboration between DHA and Moro Hub in the coming period to further strengthen the efforts of the Authority and its goals to reach a better health future.” DURING THE VISIT, THE DELEGATION TOURED IN MORO HUB’S WORLDCLASS DATA HUB AND ITS STATEOF-THE-ART SMART CITIES COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE; FOCUSING ON THE OPERATIONS OF MANAGED SERVICES OPERATIONS CENTRE, IOT OPERATIONS CENTRE AND CYBER DEFENCE CENTRE. ADDITIONALLY, THE EXECUTIVE TEAM OF MORO HUB INTRODUCED DHA TO A SHORT PRESENTATION ON THE ENHANCED SERVICES OFFERED BY MORO HUB.
Bayer’s Eliapixant significantly decreased cough frequency in Phase IIb trial in patients with refractory chronic cough
Bayer announced the results from PAGANINI, the Phase IIb dose-finding study evaluating the efficacy and safety of its investigational orally administered, potent and selective P2X3 receptor antagonist eliapixant (BAY1817080) in patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC). The primary efficacy outcome was met showing a statistically significant reduction in the 24-hour cough count (average hourly cough frequency based on 24-hour sound recordings) of up to 27% for eliapixant 75 mg twice daily over placebo after 12 weeks of treatment. In the study, eliapixant demonstrated a positive benefit-risk profile, with the vast majority of adverse events considered mild or moderate. Discontinuation of the study due to adverse events occurred in 8% of patients treated with eliapixant.
Taste-related adverse events were reported in 24% of patients treated with the highest dose of eliapixant 150 mg twice daily and markedly less in patients receiving lower doses. Most were described as “a little” and “somewhat” bothersome, none described as “extremely” bothersome. The favourable tolerability of eliapixant in this trial is consistent with earlier clinical findings. As a result, eliapixant may have the potential for safe and effective long-term use. RCC affects one to five percent of people worldwide and often has a debilitating effect on the quality of patients’ lives. Currently, no treatment is approved for the therapy of RCC, and the medical need for new effective treatments is high.
“Given the high unmet medical need, we are very encouraged with the positive outcome of eliapixant in the chronic cough indication regarding efficacy and safety,” said Christian Rommel, Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer AG's Pharmaceutical Division and Head of Research and Development. “The selective mechanism of action of eliapixant appears to be translating into improved tolerability in clinical trials. These results will guide us to advance our clinical development strategy of eliapixant.”
“Chronic cough is a common clinical condition with significant impact on quality of life and for which effective therapy remains an unmet clinical need. Over the past decade, there has been a major shift in how we approach this problem, driven by better appreciation of the clinical manifestation of chronic cough and an improved understanding of the associated neurobiology,” said Dr. Lorcan McGarvey, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast. “The findings from the PAGANINI trial with eliapixant are very encouraging, showing a promising outcome to address this unmet need. Such advancements are needed to offer new treatment options to patients with refractory chronic cough who are often suffering for many years without a relief.”
The results of the eliapixant PAGANINI study were presented at the virtual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2021 (Abstract #BA23231).
Significant improvement in 24hour cough counts over placebo after 12 weeks of treatment and with a favorable safety and tolerability profile / Results from PAGANINI Phase IIb dose-finding study presented at the virtual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2021 / Currently no treatment approved for refractory chronic cough, a condition affecting one to five percent of people wordwide.
About the Phase IIb Study
The Phase IIb study (PAGANINI, NCT04562155) is an international placebo controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, dose-finding study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of eliapixant compared to placebo in patients with RCC. In this study, 310 participants received either 25, 75 or 150 mg of eliapixant or placebo tablets twice daily for 12 weeks. Observation for each participant lasted about 18 weeks in total. Participants were asked to wear a digital device to record the cough and to complete questionnaires to document the symptoms subjectively. Blood samples were collected to monitor safety and measure the blood level of the study drug.
About Eliapixant
Eliapixant (BAY1817080) is an investigational orally administered, potent and selective P2X3 receptor antagonist. The P2X3 receptor is a key modulator of afferent nerve fiber signaling, thus considered to play a central role in diseases with nerve hypersensitization such as cough hypersensitivity syndrome. P2X3 receptor antagonists block the receptor aiming to decrease peripheral nerve fiber sensitivity. In addition to RCC, eliapixant is currently being evaluated in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of endometriosis, overactive bladder and neuropathic pain. The P2X3 receptor antagonist was derived from Bayer’s former strategic alliance with Evotec SE, a global drug discovery and development company.
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City successfully completes complex knee replacement surgery using hand-held accelorometer technology
The orthopaedic surgery team at Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), one of the UAE’s largest hospitals for serious and complex care and a joint-venture partnership between Mayo Clinic and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), has successfully completed knee replacement surgery on a 85-year-old, female patient with a complex case using minimally invasive computer-guided technology. The technology was used for the first time in Abu Dhabi.
The surgery was conducted using a handheld computer navigation system. This is an accelerometer navigation system that aids in hip and knee replacement surgeries, making them more streamlined and time efficient.
Dr Feras Ya’ish, Orthorpedic Surgeon at SSMC said: “Our patient had difficulty walking due to the heavy pain in both her left and right knees, and she also had severe arthritis in her right knee. The patient has existing metalwork inserted into her thigh bone which was from a years-old fracture that would have made the knee replacement procedure difficult. She did require the surgery to restore her mobility, but her case was considerably complex, which is why she was referred to SSMC.”
A secondary challenge was that the patient is of an advanced age with preexisting comorbidities including ischemic heart disease, lung disease, and renal failure. To ensure maximum benefit from the knee replacement, the patient’s knee was initially injected for temporary pain relief for a few weeks, which also helped restore a certain degree of mobility. Once the pain improved, the patient’s walking improved, which was a key indication that performing the knee replacement surgery would be effective in improving her overall mobility.
Another element the surgeons needed to consider was the existing presence of metalwork in the patient. The usual process of a knee replacement surgery requires the placement
Dr Feras Ya’ish
of metalwork to be used as a guide inside the canal of the bone. In this patient’s case, this couldn’t be done due to the existing metalwork. Removing the first set of metalwork would have presented a significant risk of the bone breaking where the metal was situated, as the patient is osteoporotic and this would have also required that the patient undergo a second surgery, which, given her age and preexisting conditions, was not recommended.
“The best option for her was to do the knee replacement while keeping the existing metal. This was the catalyst for us exploring the handheld accelerometer device, as it doesn’t require penetration of the bone, which is much safer for patients, especially those who are older. It also gives accurate bone cuts and bone alignment, which is research-proven. Applying the device typically takes about four minutes, and we applied it on the knee itself, moving it as the technology learnt the orientation of the bone to give us the alignment where the bone needed to be cut, without breaching or penetrating the bone itself. From cutting to dressing, the surgery took one hour and ten minutes, and was a success. The patient was able to stand the very next day and was walking by the following day,” continued Dr Ya’ish. SENIOR PATIENT WITH PRE-EXISTING COMORBIDITIES SUCCESSFULLY UNDERGOES COMPLEX KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY USING HAND-HELD ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABU DHABI, REDUCING SURGICAL TIME AND ENHANCING RECOVERY.
