Media OutReach
Key Findings from the “Hong Kong Vitiligo Patients and Caregivers Survey” Released for “World Vitiligo Day”
Over 70% of Vitiligo Patients Desire Skin Repigmentation; New Topical Therapy Introduced in Hong Kong Shows Encouraging Results
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 June 2025 – In observance of World Vitiligo Day (June 25), Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group has released findings from its latest “Hong Kong Vitiligo Patients and Caregivers Survey.” The study reveals critical gaps in treatment knowledge, with over 80% of respondents demonstrating limited understanding of available therapies and their efficacy. More than 70% of patients hoped therapy could partially or fully restore their original skin pigmentation, yet many reported disappointing outcomes with existing treatments, leading to loss of confidence and treatment discontinuation.
Dr. Chan Yung, a specialist in dermatology, noted that with advancing insights into vitiligo pathogenesis, novel therapy has recently been introduced in Hong Kong. Clinical studies confirm its repigmentation potential, encouraging patients to consult specialists for personalized treatment plans.
In Hong Kong, vitiligo affects approximately 1% of the population, with an estimated 70,000 individuals living with the condition. In May 2025, Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group successfully surveyed 61 patients or their primary caregivers to identify key challenges in disease management. Key findings as follows:
1. Critical Knowledge Deficits in Treatment Understanding
- 80% lack understanding of treatment options
- 78% unfamiliar with medication efficacy
- 84% uncertain about which specialist to consult
2. Disparity Between Treatment Expectations and Outcomes
- 74% of respondents expressed a desire for full or partial skin repigmentation, yet among the 48 treated patients, none achieved complete repigmentation, and only 8% reported partial improvement
- 67% perceived treatments as completely ineffective
3. Treatment Discontinuation Due to Lost Confidence
- 43% are not receiving any active treatment at present
- Barriers included: high private healthcare costs and long public-sector wait times (95%), and perceived futility of therapy (75%)
Vitiligo is classified as segmental (SV) or non-segmental (NSV), with 90% of cases being NSV—a subtype with higher progression risk and greater therapeutic difficulty. Traditional options (e.g., topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy) often yield variable results, with limitations such as:
- Corticosteroids: Risk of skin atrophy, telangiectasia; unsuitable for long-term use
- Phototherapy: Requires 3–6 months (or longer) of 2–3 weekly sessions, with potential sunburn and skin cancer risks
- Non-steroidal topicals: Often only slow progression rather than induce repigmentation
Over 70% of Vitiligo Patients Seek Skin Repigmentation – New Topical Treatment Introduced in Hong Kong Offers Hope
Dr. Chan Yung stated that targeted therapies like topical JAK inhibitors represent a breakthrough in vitiligo treatment. “Topical JAK inhibitors are non-steroidal medications with demonstrated efficacy and safety profiles, making them a viable long-term treatment option for patients,” he explained.
While the exact etiology of vitiligo remains unclear, current evidence suggests autoimmune-mediated attack on melanocytes plays a key pathogenic role, resulting in depigmented lesions. Non-steroidal Topical JAK inhibitors work by modulating the aberrant immune signaling responsible for melanocyte attack, enabling gradual repigmentation of affected areas.
Ruxolitinib cream, the first FDA-approved non-steroidal topical JAK inhibitor for localized treatment of non-segmental vitiligo in patients aged 12 years and above, has recently become available in Hong Kong. Clinical trials show:
- Approximately 30% of patients achieved ≥75% improvement in Facial Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (F-VASI) after 24 weeks of treatment;
- 50% of patients showed ≥50% improvement;
- Extension to 52 weeks of treatment resulted in >50% of patients attaining ≥75% improvement7
Ms. Amy Wong, a Registered Social Worker at Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group noted that many vitiligo patients and caregivers seeking assistance express confusion about treatment options and medication efficacy. “Many patients spend over a year just obtaining a definitive diagnosis,” she explained. “In their search for solutions, patients often invest substantial resources in various cosmetic packages and alternative therapies, only to experience significant discrepancies between desired and actual outcomes. This frequently leads to disillusionment, loss of hope for effective treatment, and even emotional distress.”
“However,” Ms. Wong emphasized, “with medical advancements, vitiligo is no longer considered untreatable. Repigmentation is now achievable, and we strongly encourage patients to seek professional medical consultation at the earliest opportunity.”
Conclusion and Recommendations
The survey reveals significant gaps in patients’ understanding of vitiligo treatments and their mechanisms, leaving many uncertain about where to begin treatment. Over 80% of respondents expressed desire for patient support in medication access and resource referrals. Accordingly, Dr. Chan Yung and Ms. Amy Wong, propose the following recommendations:
1. Public Education Seminars
Conduct lectures and workshops to help patients and caregivers understand that vitiligo requires long-term management, with visible results often taking extended periods to manifest. These initiatives should also educate participants about various treatment modalities, particularly newly available options like non-steroidal topical JAK inhibitors, enabling informed discussions with healthcare providers about appropriate treatment plans.
2. Medication Support and Resource Referral Services
Given that vitiligo necessitates prolonged treatment, and considering that many patients find private care cost-prohibitive while public service wait times are excessively long, we recommend establishing medication support and resource referral services to facilitate timely access to proper treatment. Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group is currently implementing a “Vitiligo Patient Support Program,” offering free psychological counseling, medication assistance, and resource referral services. Interested individuals may contact Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group for details.
Case Study
Mr. Chan (pseudonym), 58, first developed symptoms thirty years ago with a small depigmented spot on his neck that subsequently spread to his neck, waist, wrists, and thighs. At diagnosis, his physician prescribed topical corticosteroids but stated vitiligo was essentially “incurable.” Mr. Chan subsequently pursued numerous alternative treatments including UV light therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, electroacupuncture, topical shampoo applications, and cosmetic packages – exhausting savings and liquidating his stocks – all without achieving satisfactory repigmentation.
After years of unsuccessful treatment attempts, he discontinued treatment until being referred to the Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group. Through their seminars and “Vitiligo Patient Support Program”, he learned about modern treatment advances and, with medication assistance, has begun new therapy with renewed hope for repigmentation.
“My greatest wish is to wear crew-neck shirts again,” Mr. Chan shared. “Since developing vitiligo, I’ve only worn high-collared shirts to conceal neck patches and haven’t gone swimming in thirty years.” He looks forward to regaining sartorial freedom following successful repigmentation.
Hashtag: #Vitiligo #WorldVitiligoDay #TopicalJAKinhibitors #Non-steroidalTopicalJAKinhibitors #Ruxolitinibcream #SkinRepigmentation #Dr.ChanYung #Dermatology #Skincare#HongKongVitiligoSupportGroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group
Initiated by social enterprise Hong Kong Health Care Alliance, Hong Kong Vitiligo Support Group is a non-profit patient organization dedicated to individuals affected by vitiligo and their caregivers. Our mission is to enhance societal understanding of vitiligo through comprehensive disease education and support services, empowering patients to better understand and confront their condition while fostering public awareness. We strive to ensure no patient faces this journey alone.
Media OutReach
MIMO: The AI-Native Storage Species Enables Desktop Scale AI Clusters With NVIDIA DGX Spark
- Engineered for the AI era, MIMO delivers breakthrough metrics: 400 GB/s bandwidth, 54 million IOPS, and 40–90 μs latency—all within a form factor comparable to a large suitcase.
- MIMO serves as both a high-performance data hub for large-scale GPU clusters and a flexible edge deployment platform, extending seamlessly to desktop environments where it orchestrates workflows with various DGX Spark units based on NVIDIA’s GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip.
- This architecture enables independent AI clusters supporting up to 16 computing nodes within constrained environments, managing the complete workflow from large-scale pre-training and fine-tuning to production inference—effectively democratizing enterprise-grade AI capabilities for labs, edge sites, and distributed teams.
SINGAPORE –
Professor Zhang Sheng from Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School expressed a more pragmatic view: “With this solution, we finally no longer have to rely on the university’s data center. Our current annual budget alone is enough to deploy an AI cluster within our lab that better fits our needs—this will significantly boost our research efficiency both technically and operationally. It’s truly fantastic news.”
Asia Debut Marks Industry Inflection Point
Earlier at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the solution’s core—the world’s first AI-native storage system MIMO—made its strategic Asian debut. Engineered for the AI era, MIMO delivers breakthrough metrics: 400 GB/s bandwidth, 54 million IOPS, and 40–90 μs latency—all within a form factor comparable to a large suitcase.
The platform’s defining Fast-Light-Edge proposition, delivered through its breakthrough architecture, cut through the exhibition noise, generating immediate and widespread attention. MIMO earned exclusive features in top-tier media including Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao and China Securities Journal, while its product demonstration videos gained rapid traction across leading digital channels.
Addressing Foundational Challenges: Technical Dialogues That Matter
During the exhibitions, technical leaders from the United States, Spain, Singapore, Colombia, the UAE (Dubai), India, Pakistan, and Hong Kong SAR engaged in substantive dialogues with Ridger’s Asia team, raising questions that revealed systemic industry gaps:
Architectural Transformation & Strategic Positioning
“Can MIMO fundamentally replace legacy storage architectures—traditional NAS, unified, distributed, and parallel file systems—to deliver accelerated parallel training and high-concurrency inference?”
“With such exceptional performance, would deploying MIMO for traditional enterprise applications represent strategic overinvestment or forward-looking infrastructure?”
Mobile Deployment & Borderless Operations
“MIMO’s suitcase-sized footprint suggests unprecedented mobility. Can it truly accompany research teams globally like standard equipment? How does it maintain operational continuity across jurisdictions? What’s the customs protocol for such ‘technical luggage’?”
Seamless Integration & Global Accessibility
“In scenarios with unnetworked AI servers, can MIMO rapidly establish dedicated training environments with true plug-and-play functionality?”
“Does MIMO integrate transparently with existing AI infrastructure and software stacks without requiring modifications?”
“Beyond Asia-Pacific, what’s the procurement pathway for MIMO? Which currencies and payment methods are accommodated?”
Architectural Breakthrough: Redefining What’s Possible
Addressing these operational realities, Ridger demonstrated MIMO’s system-level value—transcending its role as a storage device to become an architectural cornerstone. MIMO serves as both a high-performance data hub for large-scale GPU clusters and a flexible edge deployment platform, extending seamlessly to desktop environments where it orchestrates workflows with various DGX Spark units based on NVIDIA’s GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip.
Notably, eight global OEM partners—including Dell, HPE, Lenovo, xFusion, H3C, MSI, GIGABYTE, and Acer—have concurrently launched Spark versions based on NVIDIA’s GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip, creating a robust compatibility foundation for MIMO’s ecosystem integration.
This architecture enables independent AI clusters supporting up to 16 computing nodes within constrained environments, managing the complete workflow from large-scale pre-training and fine-tuning to production inference—effectively democratizing enterprise-grade AI capabilities for labs, edge sites, and distributed teams.
As Zhu Ting, an industry observer from Beijing, noted: “This represents the ‘IBM PC moment’ for AI infrastructure—transforming specialized capability into accessible utility.”
Market Validation Through Early Adoption
Market response has been decisive. Following the exhibitions, pioneering organizations across pathological image foundation model development, legal-tech innovation, industrial visual inspection, and naked-eye 3D content production have joined Ridger’s Early Access program, validating the architecture’s transformative potential in real-world operational contexts.
Global Rollout: Accelerating Accessibility
Responding to accelerating global demand, Ridger confirmed the imminent launch of the complete MIMO portfolio and optimized solution bundles for specific DGX Spark configurations through the Ridger Official Global Store. Designed as a frictionless procurement channel, the platform will support diverse payment options including multiple fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies—streamlining access to advanced AI infrastructure.
Organizations seeking deeper understanding of MIMO and its integrated lightweight AI solution with DGX Spark are invited to connect with Ridger team or its strategic partner, NVIDIA Elite Solution Partner SinoInfo.
Hashtag: #Technology #ESG #AI #GPU #Enterprise #Finance #Storage #Flash #Compute #DGX-Spark #NVIDIA #AI-Lab #GDS #NAS #AI-Native
https://ridger.tech/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ridger/
https://www.youtube.com/@ridgertech
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Ridger
Ridger is a global technology pioneer building next-generation computing & storage infrastructure for the AI era. Born in the East and operating worldwide, Ridger challenges conventional paths to create new technological paradigms.
The team unites seasoned experts from global storage leaders with visionary AI architects, all driven by a shared mission to democratize cutting-edge technology, rejects incremental improvements and hollow prestige, focusing exclusively on foundational breakthroughs that deliver tangible value and sustainable impact.
From architecture to implementation and from service to empowerment, Ridger provides end-to-end solutions that help clients worldwide ascend to their highest summits.
Media OutReach
Johnson & Johnson and Asia Pacific Patient Advocacy Group Leaders Unite to Strengthen Shared Decision-Making in Lung Cancer Care
J&J deepens its commitment to patient empowerment in Asia Pacific by launching J&J withMe, a new patient portal offering tailored patient resources, and co-driving market-specific initiatives with patient advocacy groups
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 December 2025 – Johnson & Johnson announced the next phase of The 3rd Opinion campaign across Asia Pacific, focused on championing shared decision-making between lung cancer patients and healthcare professionals through events and stakeholder engagements at ESMO Asia 2025 in Singapore.
At a Patient Reception on 6th December 2025, 20 leaders from 17 patient advocacy groups from across Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States shared their support for the need to strengthen shared decision-making. On December 7, 2025, the ESMO Asia 2025 Symposium, ‘Advancing EGFRm NSCLC Treatment Through Shared Decision-Making’ highlighted the role of healthcare professionals not only in making sense of the data but also in helping patients and their families navigate complex decision-making.
“High prevalence in Asia of certain NSCLC mutations makes the choice of first-line therapy absolutely critical. Treatment decisions must balance clinical objectives with patient values — weighing disease biology, survival prospects, durable disease control and the tradeoffs of side effects. That’s why shared decision-making is essential: clinicians should present all appropriate treatment options, so the final choice is collaborative and aligned with each patient’s goals,” said Professor Zhu Zhengfei, Director of the Radiation Oncology Department, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.
“When lung cancer patients are empowered to speak up and understand their options, they are more likely to continue the treatment and their dignity is preserved. Initiatives like ‘The 3rd Opinion’ are vital for fostering truly patient-centered partnerships between people living with cancer and their healthcare teams,” noted Ms. Liu Yiting, Marketing & Branding Director, China MeetHealth Mi-Jian Patient Community.
“The shared commitment validates what many people living with lung cancer have long expressed: shared decision making is essential. From our experience supporting patients, meaningful conversations with clinicians help acknowledge patients’ experiences, address their concerns, and preserving their hopes,” added Mr. Jung-Il Cho, Chairman of Korea Lung Cancer Patients Association.
Our commitment comes off the back of a recent patient survey revealing that 90% of Japanese lung cancer patients want to play an active role in their treatment decisions. The survey also found that shared decision-making, where physicians and patients jointly compare treatment options and decide together, is the strongest driver of treatment satisfaction.1
Patient survey finds that those engaged in shared decision-making were 11 times more likely to report higher satisfaction with their treatments, with 90% of lung cancer patients in Japan wanting to play an active role in their treatment decisions. This finding underscores the importance of shared decision-making and patient-centered care.1
To bridge the gap between patients’ desire to engage in shared decision making and their lack of practical support, J&J has launched “J&J withMe”, an online hub that equips lung cancer patients and caregivers with tailored toolkits and conversation guides to prepare for consultations and make informed, personalized treatment decisions.
Anthony Elgamal, Vice President of Oncology, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Asia Pacific said, “The 3rd Opinion truly puts patients at the center of care. As part of our deep commitment to address patients’ unmet needs, we will continue partnering with patient advocacy groups and healthcare professionals to help patients to find their voice and the moment when medical advice meets what truly matters to patients.”
In recognition of diverse cultural and clinical norms across Asia Pacific, J&J has also rolled out tailored market activations in collaboration with local patient advocacy groups:
- Provision of patient resources such as the “Lung Cancer Book of Answers” in China, ‘Value of Time’ video for patients in Japan, and educational assets in India and Australia/New Zealand;
- Digital and social media engagement featuring patients and creators discussing the importance of shared decision-making across Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam;
- Event engagement via the establishment of a patient advisory board in India;
- Corporate Social Responsibility program with a lung cancer patient group in Korea, bringing employees and patients together to better understand the disease burden of patients and strengthen emotional support for the patient community.
###
About the 3rd Opinion
“The 3rd Opinion”, the patient’s own opinion, is a new term that sparks a social movement in the lung cancer treatment journey – designed to elevate the patient voice and empower individuals to take an active role in shaping their treatment plan. By prioritizing shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals, this collaborative approach ensures that treatment choices are aligned to each patient’s goals, preferences and circumstances. This results in more informed decisions, greater patient satisfaction, and the best possible outcomes.
About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Worldwide, lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, with NSCLC making up 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancer cases.[1], [2] The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.[3] Among the most common driver mutations in NSCLC are alterations in EGFR, which is a receptor tyrosine kinase controlling cell growth and division.[4] EGFR mutations are present in 10 to 15 percent of Western patients with NSCLC with adenocarcinoma histology and occur in 40 to 50 percent of Asian patients.[5], [6],[7],[8],[9],[10] EGFR ex19del or EGFR L858R mutations are the most common EGFR mutations.[11] The five-year survival rate for all people with advanced NSCLC and EGFR mutations treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is less than 20 percent.[12],[13] EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations are the third most prevalent activating EGFR mutation.[14] Patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations have a real-world five-year overall survival (OS) of eight percent in the frontline setting, which is worse than patients with EGFR ex19del or L858R mutations, who have a real-world five-year OS of 19 percent.[15]By comparison, other common cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer have a 5-year real world OS of 90% and 97% respectively[16].
[2] The World Health Organization. Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer. Accessed March 2025.
Hashtag: #Johnson&Johnson
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.
Learn more at
https://www.jnj.com/ or at
www.innovativemedicine.jnj.com. Follow us at
@JNJInnovMed.
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Asia Pacific, a division of Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd is a Johnson & Johnson company.
© Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. [2025] All rights reserved.
Media OutReach
Skychakra Global Capital Strategy Upgrade: Advancing Cross-Border Listings and RWA Ecosystem
As a global hub for innovation and capital, Hong Kong serves as a significant gateway for the activation of Skychakra’s global strategy. This inauguration not only symbolizes the completion of the facility but also marks the comprehensive rollout of Skychakra’s international layout.
Official Launch of Cross-Border Listing Incubation Center
During the inauguration, Skychakra announced the establishment of a cross-border listing incubation center, led by a professional team qualified with SEC, PCAOB, and FINRA credentials, boasting over a hundred projects in cross-border listings. The service scope includes U.S. stocks, Hong Kong stocks, and SPACs. Unlike traditional investment banks and financial advisors, Skychakra offers a “full-link” service for enterprise capitalization, encompassing red-chip structure setup, financial and audit compliance, SEC and Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing guidance, dual-path IPO/SPAC design, market value management, enterprise internationalization guidance, and digital upgrades.
Originally planning to sign contracts for four companies at the conference, Skychakra exceeded expectations by signing 12, demonstrating its strong appeal and industry influence in cross-border listings and capital operations.
RWA Technology Ecosystem: Making Enterprise Assets Visible to the Financial System
Real World Assets (RWA) are becoming the core of global financial transformation. From BlackRock’s launch of tokenized funds to Hong Kong and Singapore incorporating RWA into financial infrastructure, RWAs are transitioning from concept to large-scale implementation. Skychakra emphasizes that small and medium-sized enterprises face common challenges such as lack of recognition for their assets within the financial system, difficulties in cross-border financing, and a lack of transparency in asset value.
The Skychakra RWA ecosystem will provide enterprises with: tokenizable asset identification, asset structuring and entitlement, on-chain mapping and minting, cross-border compliance design, global issuance and liquidity channels, and on-chain risk control and transparent tracking. The core value of RWA lies in reducing friction for enterprises in connecting to global capital, enhancing asset liquidity and valuation potential.
A Holistic Growth Model: “From People to Enterprises, From Enterprises to Capital”
Skychakra’s differentiated advantage stems from its foundational logic of “starting with people.” The Skychakra energy courses utilize scientific equipment to measure energy fields, emotional frequencies, and meridian states, assisting individuals in enhancing stability, insight, and decision-making abilities.
Based on this foundation, Skychakra constructs three major systems:
1. Enterprise Growth System: Enhancing organizational capabilities, introducing international business, and providing capital operation guidance.
2. Capitalization System: Building global financing capabilities through listings and RWA structures.
3. Asset Digitalization System: Making enterprise value quantifiable, verifiable, and tradable.
These three systems dynamically interact in a spiral structure, forming Skychakra’s unique full-link growth ecosystem.
Conclusion: Global Layout for Greater International Influence
The inauguration of Skychakra’s Hong Kong International Center signifies the official implementation of the group’s globalization strategy. Looking forward, the focus will be on Hong Kong as the core, with Asia as the main axis, while establishing deep collaborations with the North American and Middle Eastern markets. Through this global layout, Skychakra is creating a new organizational model that transcends regions, industries, and capital, enabling enterprises to achieve value flow in the global market and allowing more Asian companies to gain a stronger voice on the international stage.
Hashtag: #Skychakra
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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