Arthritis News and Research

Latest Arthritis News and Research

The Cambridge-MIT Institute has launched a project to tackle the bottlenecks that slow development of new drugs

The Next-Generation Drug Discovery Community will unite researchers at Cambridge University and MIT with partners from the information technology, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to find ways to speed up development of the next generation of drugs--particularly those that treat diseases with complex causes such as cancers, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

7 Apr 2004

Celadrin arthritis topical cream significantly reduces pain

Celadrin is a novel compound developed through a proprietary process. The product is an all-natural ingredient which has been clinically shown to provide joint health, flexibility and improved quality of life on a cumulative basis with no reported side effects.

7 Apr 2004

FDA accepts REMICADE® (infliximab) for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis

Centocor, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its filing of a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for REMICADE® (infliximab) as first-line therapy, in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with moderately-to-severely active disease. REMICADE®, in combination with methotrexate, is currently indicated in the U.S. for reducing signs and symptoms, inhibiting the progression of structural damage and improving physical function in patients with moderately-to-severely active RA who have had an inadequate response to methotrexate alone.

6 Apr 2004

Sheffield University pioneers osteoporosis research

A leading osteoporosis expert from Sheffield has been awarded the prestigious Society for Endocrinology Medal and the Kohn Foundation Award for his 25-year commitment to revolutionising the treatment and diagnosis of osteoporosis.

31 Mar 2004

How rat's genetic blueprint stacks up against those of mice and humans

An international research team, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), today announced it has completed a high-quality, draft sequence of the genome of the laboratory rat, and has used that data to explore how the rat's genetic blueprint stacks up against those of mice and humans.

31 Mar 2004

Three of the world’s top women chemists visit UK to inspire young scientists

Three of the world’s top women chemists are visiting the UK this week (29 March - 2 April) to tour institutions and talk about their research with the aim of inspiring young scientists to emulate their achievements. The inaugural Rosalind Franklin International Lectureship Programme has been masterminded by Professor Susan Gibson, Imperial College London, who funded the initiative with her prize money from the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award.

29 Mar 2004

Simple blood tests which could predict the severity of osteoarthritis

Bristol researchers are hoping to develop simple blood tests which could predict the severity of osteoarthritis, a common, disabling joint condition which affects more than two million people in the UK.

29 Mar 2004

New patent to develop antibody therapies for cancer and other diseases

The University of Rochester Medical Center and Vaccinex, Inc. announced today the award of a key U.S. patent for a technology platform that can assist researchers in finding new treatments for cancer and other diseases. While the technology has many applications, one promising use is for the identification of certain proteins, called monoclonal antibodies, that are capable of seeking out and destroying harmful cells. Several companies have recently developed monoclonal antibodies as treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions. Under an exclusive, worldwide license from the University of Rochester, Vaccinex is using the patented technology to discover and develop new monoclonal antibody therapies.

26 Mar 2004

A common antibiotic used to treat arthritis and acne shows promise for limiting the severity of spinal cord and brain injuries

When a fall, car crash, bullet, or knife crushes or cuts a spinal cord, the injury does not stop there. Rather, tissues continue to discharge toxic chemicals for hours, even days and weeks. These chemicals kill and disable nerve cells some distance away from the core injury, compounding the damage and making rehabilitation more difficult or impossible.

26 Mar 2004

Thyroid disorders are often misdiagnosed

Thyroid disorders are among the most common medical conditions. However, because their symptoms often appear gradually, the condition is often misdiagnosed, according to Dr. Nila Vora, a board-certified endocrinologist at the Loyola Primary Care Center in Darien.

25 Mar 2004

Raptiva, 20 percent improvement in an individual's signs and symptoms of arthritis.

Genentech, Inc. and XOMA Ltd. today announced preliminary results of a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II study with RAPTIVA™ (efalizumab) in 107 patients with psoriatic arthritis. The study did not reach statistical significance at 12 weeks (84 days) for the primary endpoint, ACR 20 response. An ACR 20 response indicates at least a 20 percent improvement in an individual's signs and symptoms of arthritis.

22 Mar 2004

Lupus Discovery May Lead To Improved Drugs

In an important development in the treatment of lupus as well as certain cancers, scientists at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University have discovered how autoimmune lupus T cells stave off programmed cell death and drive production of autoantibodies directed against the body’s own DNA.

22 Mar 2004