Allergy News and Research

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The term allergy encompasses a wide range of conditions; it is not a disease in itself. In 1906 Clemens von Pirquet was the first to describe allergies as a changed or altered reaction of the immune system in response to exposure to foreign proteins. These days the term allergy – medically termed hypersensitivity, signifies an exaggerated reaction to foreign substances.

Majority of PI patients can be switched to IgPro20 without dose adjustment

Data from a European multicenter (non-IND study) showing that patients with PI who switched to IgPro20 from previously available SCIg formulations achieved comparable IgG trough levels without dosage adjustment, resulting in significantly less administration volume. The data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US.

3 Mar 2010

Step-up treatments may benefit children with asthma on low-dose inhaled corticosteroids

Children with asthma who continue to have symptoms while using low-dose inhaled corticosteroids could benefit from increasing the dosage or adding one of two asthma drugs, a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine and other institutions finds.

3 Mar 2010

Merck’s MF/F Phase III study data presented at AAAAI annual meeting

Data from two Phase III studies of Merck’s investigational fixed-dose combinations of mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate (MF/F) were presented by researchers today in two poster presentations at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting.

3 Mar 2010

Merck announces updated late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced its updated, newly integrated, late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough. The new pipeline features a broad and diversified portfolio of investigational medicines and vaccines, including more than 20 candidates in Phase III or under regulatory review, and more than 20 candidates in Phase II of development.

3 Mar 2010

Data demonstrating effectiveness of KALBITOR to treat acute HAE presented at AAAAI 2010 Annual Meeting

Data demonstrating the effectiveness of KALBITOR (ecallantide) to treat hereditary angioedema (HAE) acute attacks by primary attack location were provided in an oral presentation yesterday at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2010 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

3 Mar 2010

Phase III study results of Merck's allergy immunotherapy tablet

In new data from a Phase III study in 345 children and adolescents (ages 5-17 years), patients with grass pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis treated with Merck's investigational sublingual grass (Phleum Pratense) allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT) showed a 26 percent greater improvement in the total combined score (daily symptom score and daily medication score), compared to patients receiving placebo

3 Mar 2010

InterMune seeks European marketing approval for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that it has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval to market pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in the European Union (EU). Currently, there are no EMA-approved treatments for IPF in the EU.

2 Mar 2010

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

A new study using mice suggests that a repeated stressful situation that triggers the animals' natural "fight-or-flight" response may actually enhance their ability to fight disease when re-exposed to the same pathogen.

2 Mar 2010

C1-INH replacement therapy effective for treating acute swelling attacks in HAE

C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrate is an effective, well-tolerated therapy that rapidly relieves acute swelling attacks and successive attacks at any body location in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare and serious genetic disorder, according to data presented today at the 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting. Additional pharmacokinetic data presented at the meeting confirms that C1-INH concentrate has a longer half-life than other treatment options for HAE, which protects patients from rebound attacks.

2 Mar 2010

Patients with HAE experience prodromal symptoms before acute HAE attacks: Survey

Patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) experience prodromal or early warning symptoms before nearly three-quarters of their HAE attacks, according to survey findings presented today at the 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting.

2 Mar 2010

Study: EIB may affect lives and health of public if not addressed properly

For the vast majority of the general public, respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing are a common part of the exercise experience. However, together with chest tightness, noisy breathing and trouble taking a deep breath, these six symptoms make up the phenomenon known as exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), which has physical, emotional and psychological consequences if not addressed properly.

2 Mar 2010

Balloon Sinuplasty minimally invasive surgery safe for treating chronic sinusitis in children

A recently published study in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy demonstrates Balloon Sinuplasty™ technology to be safe when used by physicians in pediatric patients. Known as the INTACT study, this is a prospective, non-randomized, multicenter study and was sponsored by Acclarent, Inc.

2 Mar 2010

Wolters Kluwer Health introduces advanced medication decision support platform for EMR vendors

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, today unveiled Medi-Span® Clinical, a robust clinical decision support (CDS) platform that delivers the functionality, interoperability and medication-related CDS necessary to advance the practice of evidence-based medicine and to achieve meaningful use of health IT.

2 Mar 2010

IgPro20 protects PI patients against infection

Data presented today suggest that 20 percent liquid formulation, Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human) (SCIg), or IgPro20 effectively protects patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PI) against infection. The 20 percent formulation, the highest Ig concentration currently available, was also shown to sustain serum IgG levels without causing unexpected rates of adverse events. The data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US.

2 Mar 2010

4medica's IHR to be demonstrated at HIMSS conference

4medica, the leading independent provider of Web-based connectivity between physicians and clinical laboratories, today announced the launch of its Integrated Health Record (IHR™), which includes modular components designed to enable hospitals and eligible providers to demonstrate “meaningful use” and qualify for federal government incentives in 2011.

1 Mar 2010

Oral immunotherapy promising for egg allergies, SLIT for milk allergies

Children with egg allergies who consume increasingly higher doses of egg protein - the very nutrient they react to - appear to gradually overcome their allergies, tolerating eggs better over time and with milder symptoms, according to research conducted at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and elsewhere.

1 Mar 2010

JACI supplement supports the importance of small airways in asthma management

Increasing evidence supports the importance of small airways in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma; however, focused areas of discussion and critical review of this topic have been lacking. To foster a better understanding of the role of small airways in asthma management, Teva Respiratory, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., will be providing reprints of a special supplement entitled "Small Airway Involvement: A Key to Asthma" from the December issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at their exhibit (Booth #724) at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting being held Feb. 26-March 2, 2010 in New Orleans, La.

1 Mar 2010

Aruba Networks, Motion Computing announce unified communications and data access healthcare solution

Aruba Networks, Inc., a global leader in 802.11n wireless LANs and secure mobility solutions, and Motion Computing, a leading provider of integrated mobile computing solutions, today announced a certified healthcare solution to reliably deliver unified communications services and data access at the point-of-care.

1 Mar 2010

Electronic prescribing decreases prescription errors

Should doctors around the country use e-prescribing to decrease prescription errors? A study led by physician-scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College found that health care providers using an electronic system to write prescriptions were seven times less likely to make errors than those writing their prescriptions by hand. The study appears today in the online edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

27 Feb 2010

Phadia AB plans to provide access for specialists to peanut allergen components

Today, at the 2010 Annual Meeting of The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Phadia, the world leader in in vitro allergy diagnostics, announced plans to provide access for specialists to peanut allergen components. These plans support Phadia’s goal to expand collaboration with allergy and immunology specialists in order to advance the understanding of the clinical utility of allergen component test results.

27 Feb 2010