Autoimmune Disease News and Research

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Autoimmune Disease is a condition in which the body recognizes its own tissues as foreign and directs an immune response against them.

FDA advisory committee recommends approval of Novartis' FTY720 for relapsing MS

Today, an advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended approval of FTY720 (fingolimod) for the treatment of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, the most common form of the disease. The FDA has the option of seeking the advice of one of its advisory committees as it reviews and decides whether to approve a new treatment. The committee voted unanimously that FTY720 demonstrated substantial efficacy in treating relapsing remitting MS and that safety of the proposed 0.5 mg dose justified approval.

11 Jun 2010

Human Genome Sciences submits BLA for BENLYSTA to FDA

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced that it has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval to market BENLYSTA® (belimumab) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

10 Jun 2010

Update on Phase II clinical study of CH-4051 in rheumatoid arthritis

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. announced that during a teleconference yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested that the company delay the initiation of its proposed Phase II clinical study of CH-4051 in rheumatoid arthritis and indicated that the agency is requesting additional detail from the preclinical studies previously submitted as part of the company's investigational new drug application.

9 Jun 2010

Idera reports preliminary results from IMO-3100 Phase 1 clinical trial for autoimmune, inflammatory diseases

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced preliminary results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-3100, its lead Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9 antagonist drug candidate for potential applications in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In this trial, healthy subjects in five dosage cohorts received single doses of IMO-3100 from 0.04 to 0.64 mg/kg. IMO-3100 was well tolerated at all dose levels.

8 Jun 2010

GSK submits BENLYSTA MAA for systemic lupus erythematosus

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for approval to market BENLYSTA® (belimumab) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

7 Jun 2010

Positive data on retreatment with brentuximab vedotin in Hodgkin lymphoma, ALCL presented at ASCO

Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, today reported data on Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) patients retreated with single-agent brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35). Preliminary data demonstrate that objective responses were achieved in seven out of 11 retreatment experiences and that brentuximab vedotin was well-tolerated in the retreatment setting.

7 Jun 2010

New approach to treat RA can change lives of millions of patients: Research

Portuguese scientists have just published a revolutionary new approach to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which, if translated to humans, can change the way we treat autoimmunity (and so diseases like RA but also diabetes and MS) and, with it, the lives of millions of patients.

3 Jun 2010

Entelos' T1D PhysioLab platform published in Clinical and Experimental Immunology

Entelos, Inc. has announced a publication in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical and Experimental Immunology describing the Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) PhysioLab® platform, an in silico solution for rapidly streamlining preclinical research through the evaluation of alternative scenarios for therapeutic strategies.

2 Jun 2010

Researchers identify pattern of gene expression in kidney transplant recipients who don't need anti-rejection drugs

Researchers have identified a distinct pattern of gene expression in the largest reported group of kidney transplant recipients who have not rejected the transplant kidneys even though they stopped taking anti-rejection drugs. This finding may help identify other transplant recipients who could safely reduce or end use of immunosuppressive therapy. In 2008, more than 80,000 people in the United States were living with a kidney transplant.

31 May 2010

Preimplantation Factor essential for pregnancy to succeed: Study

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine and their colleagues at the Society for the Investigation of Early Pregnancy have helped clarify the function of a unique protein called Preimplantation Factor, which is produced by healthy embryos to direct embryo attachment and help the mother adapt to pregnancy.

29 May 2010

Physicians diagnose rare parasitic infection in people who consumed raw crayfish

If you're headed to a freshwater stream this summer and a friend dares you to eat a raw crayfish - don't do it. You could end up in the hospital with a severe parasitic infection.

27 May 2010

Abbott Biotech Ventures invests in Alvine Pharmaceuticals

Alvine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutics for autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, today announced that Abbott Biotech Ventures Inc., has joined Alvine's current investors: Interwest Partners, Panorama Capital, Prospect Venture Partners, Sofinnova Ventures, Black River Asset Management and Flagship Ventures in the company's Series A Extension financing. The terms of the investment were not disclosed.

27 May 2010

New journal to focus on autoimmune disease research and development

Springer is launching a new journal Autoimmunity Highlights, an independent, international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes papers related to the diverse aspects of autoimmunity, and seeks to be a bridge between the clinic, the laboratory and the specialists who are involved in the complex world of autoimmunity diagnosis.

26 May 2010

Study finds disagreement between RA patients and doctors on assessment of disease severity

A novel study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that nearly one-third of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients differed from their physicians in assessment of their disease severity. The disagreement between patient and doctor evaluation of RA activity was most prevalent in patients with depressive symptoms, and those who had poor overall function.

26 May 2010

Clovis Oncology, Avila Therapeutics announce development agreement for NSCLC EMSI program

Clovis Oncology, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing innovative anti-cancer agents, and Avila Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company designing targeted covalent drugs, announced today an agreement for the development and commercialization of Avila's epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant-selective inhibitor (EMSI) program, currently in pre-clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

25 May 2010

Enrollment in phase II clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin for ALCL completed

Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, today announced that they have completed enrollment of a phase II clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) for relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

24 May 2010

Data on retreatment experiences with brentuximab vedotin in clinical trials to be presented at 2010 ASCO

Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that data regarding retreatment experiences with brentuximab vedotin in phase I and phase II clinical trials will be presented during a poster session at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) being held June 4-8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.

21 May 2010

Roche, Biogen Idec discontinue ocrelizumab clinical development programme for RA

Roche and Biogen Idec today announced their decision to discontinue the ocrelizumab clinical development programme in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

19 May 2010

Is gluten the latest villain in the battle for better health?

If you've been food shopping or out to eat lately, you've probably noticed that "gluten-free" foods now claim their own grocery store shelves and dozens of national restaurant chain menus highlight "gluten-free" entrees.

17 May 2010

Athersys presents data supporting MultiStem programs

Athersys, Inc. today presented data supporting its MultiStem® programs in cardiovascular disease, neurological disease and immune system modulation, and highlighted advancements in other areas, including progress in its drug development program in the area of obesity.

15 May 2010