Immune System News and Research

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ImmunoCellular Therapeutics files a provisional patent application

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of brain and other cancers, announced today that it has filed a provisional patent application at US Patent Office seeking protection of intellectual property relating to novel glycosylated epitopes present in lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and colon cancer that are targeted by the Company’s ICT-109 monoclonal antibody product candidate.

20 Oct 2009

Potential hazards of H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu shot not disclosed, say protesters

As millions of Americans remain concerned about government-recommended flu shots, dozens of citizens dressed in full haz-mat suits will gather Wednesday, October 21, at the entrance to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) to greet arriving members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

20 Oct 2009

Cangene to acquire U.S. commercialization rights for HepaGam B

Cangene Corporation today announces that it has signed an agreement with its majority shareholder, the Apotex Group, under which Cangene acquires all U.S. commercialization rights for HepaGam B(R) (Hepatitis B Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)). HepaGam B(R) is Cangene's hepatitis B immune globulin, which is approved for treating two hepatitis-B-related indications in the U.S.

20 Oct 2009

RA patients who adhere to their prescription drug regimen have better outcome: Study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who regularly adhere to their prescription drug regimen have fewer emergency room and doctor visits and incur lower medical costs, according to research presented today by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. at the American College of Rheumatology's Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

20 Oct 2009

New research emphasizes benefits of exercise on brain and related disorders

Research presented today at Neuroscience 2009, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, provides a better understanding of the brain, nervous system, and related disorders.

20 Oct 2009

Diabetes represents a global health threat

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) released new data today showing that a staggering 285 million people worldwide have diabetes.

20 Oct 2009

Scientists find cause for lupuslike disease in mice

Macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body's immune system, are responsible for disposing of dying cells. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified one pathway in this important process in mice that, if disrupted, causes a lupuslike autoimmune disease.

19 Oct 2009

WHO recommends antivirals for patients with symptoms of both H1N1, pneumonia

The WHO concluded a three-day meeting on H1N1 (swine flu) in Washington, D.C., on Friday, where health experts issued recommendations that patients with symptoms of H1N1 and pneumonia be treated quickly with antivirals, even before the results of H1N1 tests are complete, the San Francisco Chronicle blog, "ChronRX" reports (Allday, 10/16).

19 Oct 2009

Experts: Treat swine flu quickly, even without verification

The World Health Organization concluded a three-day meeting on H1N1 (swine flu) in Washington, D.C., on Friday, where health experts issued recommendations that patients with symptoms of H1N1 and pneumonia be treated quickly with antivirals, even before the results of H1N1 tests are complete, the San Francisco Chronicle blog, "ChronRX" reports (Allday, 10/16).

19 Oct 2009

FDA approves GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' Cervarix for prevention of cervical cancer

The FDA today approved Cervarix, a new vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and precancerous lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. The vaccine is approved for use in girls and women ages 10 years through 25 years.

19 Oct 2009

Chinese SFDA approves China Medical Technologies' SPR System

China Medical Technologies, Inc., a leading China-based medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets advanced in-vitro diagnostic products, today announced that the Company has received approval for its SPR- based analysis system (the "SPR System") from the State Food and Drug Administration of China (the "SFDA").

19 Oct 2009

Discovery may yield better understanding of protective gut-dwelling bacteria

Medical researchers have long suspected that obscure bacteria living within the intestinal tract may help keep the human immune system in balance. An international collaboration co-led by scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center has now identified a bizarre-looking microbial species that can single-handedly spur the production of specialized immune cells in mice.

19 Oct 2009

IL-2 compound ineffective against HIV-AIDS

An international research team has demonstrated that treating HIV-AIDS with interleukin-2 (IL-2) is ineffective. As a result, the researchers recommend that clinical trials on this compound be stopped.

19 Oct 2009

Breakthrough discovery by scientists may lead to a new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease

A breakthrough discovery by scientists from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, may lead to a new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease that actually removes amyloid plaques-considered a hallmark of the disease-from patients' brains.

19 Oct 2009

Immune-related proteins are potential drug targets for gastric inflammation and cancer

A research team from South Korea studied the complex reaction of gastric inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) in a systematic manner using a protein interaction network. Their study will be published on September 28, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

19 Oct 2009

Research study on cowpox virus

In the annals of medicine, Edward Jenner's 1796 vaccination of a young boy against smallpox, using fluid from cowpox blisters, remains a landmark case. In a new study, Kathryn Sykes, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute and her colleagues have taken a fresh look at cowpox.

19 Oct 2009

New chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Researchers identified a new chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that appears to work in concert with another mutation to give rise to cancer. This latest anomaly is particularly common in children with Down syndrome.

19 Oct 2009

DFG Research Centre to be funded for a further four-year period

The DFG Research Centre for Renewable Therapies at the Technical University of Dresden ("Renewable Therapies: From Cells to Tissues to Therapies - Engineering the Cellular Basis of Regeneration ", CRTD), following a very successful first funding period, is being extended and will be funded for a further four years.

19 Oct 2009

Novel HIV drug to be studied in cell cultures and patients

A $6 million, five-year federal grant to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute will enable researchers to investigate a novel approach in treating HIV infection---a unique class of drugs focused on developing therapies for psychological and neurological effects in AIDS.

19 Oct 2009

Phase I clinical study of PENNVAX-B preventive DNA vaccine using electroporation technology

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) announced today the initiation of a phase I clinical study of Inovio’s PENNVAX-B preventive DNA vaccine delivered using its proprietary electroporation technology.

19 Oct 2009