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.

Patients with treatment-resistant autoimmune blood conditions may benefit from sirolimus

The immunosuppressant sirolimus is an effective and safe steroid-sparing therapy for children and young adults with highly treatment-resistant autoimmune blood conditions, according to a study published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology.

27 Oct 2015

Inhibiting JAK family of enzymes promotes rapid hair growth, new study finds

Inhibiting a family of enzymes inside hair follicles that are suspended in a resting state restores hair growth, a new study from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center has found.

26 Oct 2015

Juneau Biosciences presents new genetic discoveries in endometriosis at annual ASRM meeting

This week, Juneau Biosciences, LLC presented new discoveries concerning the genetics of endometriosis at the annual American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) meeting in Baltimore, MD.

23 Oct 2015

XTL signs agreement with Yeda to amend development milestones for lupus treatment

XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of unmet clinical needs with a focus on treatments for autoimmune diseases, today announced that it has reached agreement with Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd. to amend the development milestones in the License Agreement signed between the parties in January 2014 for the development of hCDR1 for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

13 Oct 2015

Single drop of blood in the brain can activate autoimmune response akin to multiple sclerosis

A new study from the Gladstone Institutes shows that a single drop of blood in the brain is sufficient to activate an autoimmune response akin to multiple sclerosis (MS). This is the first demonstration that introduction of blood in the healthy brain is sufficient to cause peripheral immune cells to enter the brain, which then go on to cause brain damage.

12 Oct 2015

ImmunArray launches SLE-key Rule-Out test for lupus patients

Following a limited three-month trial period in which more than one hundred and fifty patients with lupus-like symptoms were tested for the difficult-to-diagnose disease, a new blood test for lupus is being rolled out nationally.

12 Oct 2015

Scientists calculate precise measurements of heritability in nine pediatric-onset autoimmune diseases

Scientists have calculated more precise measurements of heritability--the influence of underlying genes--in nine autoimmune diseases that begin in childhood. The research may strengthen researchers' abilities to better predict a child's risk for associated autoimmune diseases.

9 Oct 2015

Roche to acquire biotechnology company, Adheron Therapeutics

Adheron Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, United States, announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by Roche.

9 Oct 2015

Interim data from long-term extension Tecfidera® (dimethyl fumarate) study

Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB) will, this week, present data at the 31st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Barcelona, Spain, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of TECFIDERA® (dimethyl fumarate) across a broad range of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

7 Oct 2015

Finding could lead to potential new treatment for patients with autoimmune diseases

Antibodies protect the body against diseases - but can also harm their own organism if the reactions are misdirected. Researchers from the University of Zurich have now discovered that a particular sugar in the antibodies determines whether one of the body's own cells is destroyed or not. This result could lead to new treatment possibilities for patients with autoimmune diseases.

6 Oct 2015

Sexual activity causes physiological changes in the body that increase women's chances of getting pregnant

Research from Indiana University has found that sexual activity triggers physiological changes in the body that increase a woman's chances of getting pregnant, even outside the window of ovulation.

6 Oct 2015

Predicting better immunotherapy response, neurological outcomes in adults with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia

While autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (a loss of muscle control coordination) can lead to severe disability with some patients becoming wheelchair-bound, there are factors that may help predict better immunotherapy response, according to the Mayo Clinic study published by JAMA Neurology.

30 Sep 2015

Study: Biomarkers in maternal blood may predict risk for adverse outcomes in pregnant women with SLE

Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are at higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, fetal death, miscarriages, and other complications.

29 Sep 2015

Unique molecule can bind HIV-infected cells to killer T cells

A unique molecule developed at Duke Medicine, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and MacroGenics, Inc., is able to bind HIV-infected cells to the immune system's killer T cells. It could become a key part of a shock-and-kill strategy being developed in the hope of one day clearing HIV infection.

29 Sep 2015

New NIH grants support research that combines DNA sequence information and electronic medical records

A dozen awards from the National Institutes of Health will support research that incorporates DNA sequence information into electronic medical records. The goal of research conducted by the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network is to better understand the genomic basis of disease and to tailor medical care to individual patients based on their genomic differences.

2 Sep 2015

Experts to discuss research on lupus at world congress organized by MedUni Vienna

Lupus is an autoimmune disease with so many different symptoms that it is often difficult to diagnose and to treat. Despite huge medical advances over the last few years, lupus is incurable. Modern, individually tailored therapeutic approaches are aimed at helping sufferers. The world congress organized by MedUni Vienna brings experts from more than 80 countries together in Vienna from 2 to 6 September to discuss the latest research results and therapies.

1 Sep 2015

Scientists identify new protein that regulates severity of tissue damage caused by RA

Scientists have identified a new protein (C5orf30) which regulates the severity of tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain, stiffness and damage to the joints of the feet, hips, knees, and hands.

31 Aug 2015

Cryoport to support future clinical trials for Opexa's personalized T-cell immunotherapy programs for MS, NMO

Cryoport, Inc., the leading provider of advanced cryogenic logistics solutions for the life sciences industry, today announced that its validated cryogenic logistics solution will support future clinical trials for Opexa Therapeutics' lead personalized T-cell immunotherapy programs for Multiple Sclerosis ("MS") and Neuromyelitis Optica ("NMO").

27 Aug 2015

New assessment tool under development can help detect physical traits of Klinefelter syndrome

Klinefelter syndrome is the most common disorder of the male sex chromosomes, yet is rarely diagnosed in children. A new assessment tool is being developed by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) to help pediatricians detect the physical traits of the syndrome. The tool could pave the way for early interventions that prevent and treat a range of physical, psychological, social, and cognitive impairments.

26 Aug 2015

Janus collaborates with Roche to develop TLR inhibitor to address several autoimmune diseases

Janus Biotherapeutics today announced that they have entered into a collaboration with Roche for the development of a small molecule toll-like receptor (TLR) inhibitor with the potential to address several autoimmune diseases. TLRs are an important class of proteins that play a key role in the innate immune system.

20 Aug 2015