Fibrosis News and Research

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Fibrosis is the growth of fibrous tissue.

Boehringer Ingelheim begins SENSCIS study to investigate safety, efficacy of nintedanib in patients with SSc-ILD

Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that the first person has been enrolled in the SENSCIS (Safety and Efficacy ofNintedanib in Systemic SClerosIS) study.

10 Dec 2015

Mutant protein responsible for cystic fibrosis talks to wrong cellular neighbors

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found evidence that a mutant protein responsible for most cases of cystic fibrosis is so busy "talking" to the wrong cellular neighbors that it cannot function normally and is prematurely degraded.

1 Dec 2015

Could statins treat muscular dystrophy? An interview with Dr. Nick Whitehead and Dr Stan Froehner

In addition to their well established cholesterol lowering benefits, statins also have potent anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and antioxidant effects, which continue to be identified in a wide range of diseases.

30 Nov 2015

Health insurance coverage for transgender people is cost-effective, study finds

A new analysis led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that while most U.S. health insurance plans deny benefits to transgender men and women for medical care necessary to transition to the opposite sex, paying for sex reassignment surgery and hormones is actually cost-effective.

25 Nov 2015

LSP, Bristol-Myers Squibb announce immuno-oncology collaboration

LSP (Life Sciences Partners), the specialist healthcare investment firm, has announced today a strategic collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in which the companies will work closely together in identifying European breakthrough technologies and products in immuno-oncology and other areas of unmet medical need.

24 Nov 2015

U of T researchers discover mysterious fungus that defends against neighbouring bacteria

Researchers at the University of Toronto examined fungi in the mucus of patients with cystic fibrosis and discovered how one particularly cunning fungal species has evolved to defend itself against neighbouring bacteria.

21 Nov 2015

Health experts urge lawmakers, regulators to close loopholes in Orphan Drug Act

Health experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine are calling on lawmakers and regulators to close loopholes in the Orphan Drug Act they claim give drug companies millions of dollars in unintended and misplaced subsidies and tax breaks and fuel skyrocketing medication costs.

20 Nov 2015

ProMetic, ProThera form strategic partnership to develop and commercialize Inter-alpha Inhibitor Proteins

ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with ProThera Biologics Inc. for the development and commercialization of human plasma-derived Inter-alpha Inhibitor Proteins.

19 Nov 2015

Researchers identify new target for novel immune-oncology treatments

By studying a type of immune cells, a team of researchers at the IRCM led by André Veillette, MD, identified the mechanism of action for a new target for novel immune-oncology treatments. Their discovery is published today in the print edition of the scientific journal the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

17 Nov 2015

Improved gene therapy treatment shows promise in mice with cystic fibrosis

An improved gene therapy treatment can cure mice with cystic fibrosis (CF). Cell cultures from CF patients, too, respond well to the treatment. Those are the encouraging results of a study presented by the Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy at KU Leuven, Belgium.

17 Nov 2015

Tyrogenex announces results from phase 1 study of orally-administered X-82 in patients with AMD

Tyrogenex, a privately held company focused on the development of targeted therapeutics for cancer and ophthalmology, today announced data from its phase 1 open-label study of orally-administered X-82 in patients for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

15 Nov 2015

UC Irvine Health researchers develop one-step test to detect HCV infections

UC Irvine Health researchers have developed a cost-effective one-step test that screens, detects and confirms hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Dr. Ke-Qin Hu, director of hepatology services, will present findings at the Annual Meeting of American Association for the Study of Liver Disease in San Francisco, Nov. 14-16. Current blood-based HCV testing requires two steps and can be expensive, inconvenient and is not widely available or affordable globally.

15 Nov 2015

FixHepC Buyers Club exposes weakness in Australian healthcare, assists patients to import life saving medication

In one of the greatest advances in medicine in decades, Hepatitis C is now largely curable. Over 200,000 Australians suffer from Hepatitis C. However the US manufacturer, Gilead Sciences Inc is attempting to charge the PBS $84,000 for a 12 week course of medication that costs under $200 dollars to manufacture.

13 Nov 2015

New funding for Centenary's life saving research

The Centenary Institute has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of funding for 9 new and innovative medical research projects via the latest round of NHMRC grant rounds funding, officially confirmed today.

9 Nov 2015

Study explores prevalence of myocardial scars in middle-aged and older population

In a multiethnic, middle-aged and older study population, the prevalence of myocardial scars (evidence of a heart attack) was nearly 8 percent, of which nearly 80 percent were unrecognized by electrocardiography or clinical evaluation, according to a study in the November 10 issue of JAMA.

9 Nov 2015

RXi Pharmaceuticals begins Phase 1/2 clinical trial in ophthalmology

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative therapies primarily in the areas of dermatology and ophthalmology today announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in ophthalmology. The clinical study RXI-109-1501 will evaluate the safety and clinical activity of RXI-109 to prevent the progression of retinal scarring, a harmful component of numerous retinal diseases.

5 Nov 2015

Samumed to present preclinical and clinical data on Wnt pathway for OA treatment at ACR 2015

Samumed, LLC, a leader in tissue regeneration, announced today that it will present preclinical and clinical data on a small molecule modulator of the Wnt pathway (SM04690, an investigational new drug) for potential disease modifying treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee at 2015 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

4 Nov 2015

UAB study aims to provide improved care related to reproductive health of women with CF

For University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Assistant Professor Sigrid Ladores, Ph.D., investigating reproductive health concerns in adolescents and young adults with chronic illnesses, particularly those with cystic fibrosis, is not just a profession, it is a passion.

3 Nov 2015

SLU hepatologist receives $150,000 grant to study preventative strategies for TPN-associated disorders

When a child is born prematurely, providing nutrition intravenously can be lifesaver. Unfortunately it can also cause liver damage down the road.

29 Oct 2015

UNM CCC biostatisticians help scientists conduct research on cancer

In contrast to most people, Ji-Hyun Lee, DrPH, doesn't find statistics difficult or boring. For her, statistics is fulfilling because it's how she helps people fight cancer. "People think biostatistics is purely numbers," Lee says, "but my work helps to improve patients' care." She recalls a visit to a hospital patient as a young statistician working for a cystic fibrosis research team.