Blood News and Research

RSS

CAR therapy shows potential for advancing treatment of patients with ALL and CLL

Novartis is highlighting new research from members of the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine on the investigational chimeric antigen receptor therapy, CTL019. Several studies being presented at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting add to the scientific understanding of CTL019 in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia and build on earlier research findings.

9 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 9, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about new sticker-shock concerns over costs for coverage purchased through the health law's new online insurance marketplaces.

9 Dec 2013

Children and adults with high-risk ALL benefit from novel, personalized cell therapy

Nearly 90 percent of children and adults with a highly aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia showed no evidence of cancer after receiving a novel, personalized cell therapy that reprograms a patient's immune system. In pilot studies of bioengineered T cells that attack leukemia, 24 of 27 patients (89%) experienced complete responses within 28 days after treatment. In all, 27 patients received the treatment--22 children treated at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and five adults treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

9 Dec 2013

Researchers identify central switch by which HDL controls inflammatory response

High-density lipoprotein, known colloquially as "good cholesterol", protects against dangerous deposits in the arteries. An important function of HDL is its anti-inflammatory properties. An international research team at the Institute of Innate Immunity at the University Hospital of Bonn and the LIMES Institute at the University of Bonn has identified a central switch by which HDL controls the inflammatory response. The results are presented in the current issue of "Nature Immunology".

9 Dec 2013

Malaria cases in the U.S. rising due to international travel, inadequate use of prevention methods

The number of malaria cases in the United States is rising, a trend that can be linked to the increasing amount of international travel and inadequate use of prevention methods.

9 Dec 2013

Ligand announces data from preclinical studies on small-molecule oral G-CSF receptor agonist

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that data from preclinical studies on its granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor agonist program were featured in a poster presentation today at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in New Orleans.

9 Dec 2013

Atonomics reaches agreement to advance development of diagnostic test for lifestyle diseases

Atonomics announces today that it has entered into an agreement with Omron Healthcare, which will enable Atonomics to advance the development of the AtolyzerConsumer device for advanced diagnostic testing of lifestyle diseases in a consumer pharmacy setting. As part of the transaction Omron Healthcare is taking a minority equity stake in Atonomics.

9 Dec 2013

Findings hold great promise for potential use of ELABELA as therapeutic molecule for heart diseases

Scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology and Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology have identified a gene encoding a hormone that could potentially be used as a therapeutic molecule to treat heart diseases. The hormone - which they have chosen to name ELABELA - is only 32 amino-acids long, making it amongst the tiniest proteins made by the human body.

9 Dec 2013

Gecko Biomedical announces closing of Series A financing round

Gecko Biomedical, a privately owned medical device company based in Paris that is developing novel biodegradable surgical wound closure solutions, announced the closing of a €8 million ($11m) Series A financing round. The financing was co-led by Omnes Capital and CM-CIC Capital Finance, and joined by CapDecisif Management.

9 Dec 2013

New form of gene therapy shows promising outcomes for "bubble boy" disease

Researchers reported promising outcomes data for the first group of boys with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID-X1), a fatal genetic immunodeficiency also known as "bubble boy" disease, who were treated as part of an international clinical study of a new form of gene therapy. The mechanism used to deliver the gene therapy is designed to prevent the serious complication of leukemia that arose a decade ago in a similar trial in Europe, when one-quarter of boys treated developed the blood cancer.

9 Dec 2013

Penn researchers identify protein that could clear Alzheimer's plaques

The body is structured to ensure that any invading organisms have a tough time reaching the brain, an organ obviously critical to survival. Known as the blood-brain barrier, cells that line the brain and spinal cord are tightly packed, making it difficult for anything besides very small molecules to cross from the bloodstream into the central nervous system. While beneficial, this blockade also stands in the way of delivering drugs intended to treat neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's.

9 Dec 2013

New study presents promising results for treatment of multiple myeloma

A new study conducted by scientists from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, USA, and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, presents very promising results for the treatment of the cancer form multiple myeloma. The drug candidate used in the research has been developed by scientists from Karolinska Institutet and a Swedish company following its initial identification at the same university. The findings are so promising that the scientists are teaming up with Harvard to bring the drug to clinical trials on patients.

9 Dec 2013

Genetically engineered cell therapies demonstrate early efficacy, safety in patients with blood disorders

A series of advancements in genetically engineered cell therapies demonstrate early efficacy and safety in patients with blood disorders for whom standard treatments have been unsuccessful, according to data showcased today during the 55th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans.

9 Dec 2013

Underlying loss of awareness during partial seizures is same as deep sleep

Epilepsy patients with complex partial seizures have impaired consciousness during seizure episodes and typically have no memory of the event. However, the mechanisms of seizure unconsciousness are unclear.

9 Dec 2013

Study helps explain why survival gap persists for African-Americans with head and neck cancer

A team of scientists at Johns Hopkins and in Texas has identified a handful of genetic mutations in black Americans, in addition to some chemical alterations affecting gene activity, which may help explain why the death rate among African-Americans from the most common form of head and neck cancer continues to hover some 18 percent higher above the death rate of whites with the same cancer.

9 Dec 2013

Scientists target protein-detection approach to systematically measure human repertoire of proteins

An international team of scientists led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center cancer proteomics expert Amanda Paulovich, M.D., has demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale, standardized protein measurements, which are necessary for validation of disease biomarkers and drug targets.

9 Dec 2013

NIH scientists film early concussion damage and describe brain's response to injury

There is more than meets the eye following even a mild traumatic brain injury. While the brain may appear to be intact, new findings reported in Nature suggest that the brain's protective coverings may feel the brunt of the impact.

9 Dec 2013

Gene discovered to play a part in one per cent of all cancers

Researchers have identified a gene that drives the development of tumours in over one per cent of all cancer patients. This is the first time that the gene CUX1 has been broadly linked to cancer development.

9 Dec 2013

Scientists identify gene encoding hormone to treat heart diseases

Scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) and Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMCB) have identified a gene encoding a hormone that could potentially be used as a therapeutic molecule to treat heart diseases.

9 Dec 2013

Janssen reports positive pivotal Phase 2 study data of siltuximab for Multicentric Castleman's Disease

Janssen Research & Development, LLC today announced positive results from a pivotal Phase 2 global registration study (MCD2001) suggesting siltuximab, an investigational compound, along with best supportive care, exhibited statistically significant efficacy and a tolerable safety profile compared with placebo and BSC in treating patients with the rare disorder Multicentric Castleman's Disease who are HIV-negative and human herpes virus 8-negative.

8 Dec 2013

Blood News and Research

CAR therapy shows potential for advancing treatment of patients with ALL and CLL

First Edition: December 9, 2013

Children and adults with high-risk ALL benefit from novel, personalized cell therapy

Researchers identify central switch by which HDL controls inflammatory response

Malaria cases in the U.S. rising due to international travel, inadequate use of prevention methods

Ligand announces data from preclinical studies on small-molecule oral G-CSF receptor agonist

Atonomics reaches agreement to advance development of diagnostic test for lifestyle diseases

Findings hold great promise for potential use of ELABELA as therapeutic molecule for heart diseases

Gecko Biomedical announces closing of Series A financing round

New form of gene therapy shows promising outcomes for "bubble boy" disease

Penn researchers identify protein that could clear Alzheimer's plaques

New study presents promising results for treatment of multiple myeloma

Genetically engineered cell therapies demonstrate early efficacy, safety in patients with blood disorders

Underlying loss of awareness during partial seizures is same as deep sleep

Study helps explain why survival gap persists for African-Americans with head and neck cancer

Scientists target protein-detection approach to systematically measure human repertoire of proteins

NIH scientists film early concussion damage and describe brain's response to injury

Gene discovered to play a part in one per cent of all cancers

Scientists identify gene encoding hormone to treat heart diseases

Janssen reports positive pivotal Phase 2 study data of siltuximab for Multicentric Castleman's Disease

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Latest News