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Patient enrollment completed in vepoloxamer Phase 3 study for treatment of sickle cell disease

Mast Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, clinical-stage therapies for sickle cell disease and heart failure today announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its Phase 3 clinical study of vepoloxamer for the treatment of patients with sickle cell disease experiencing vaso-occlusive crisis, known as the EPIC study.

22 Feb 2016

Novel gene therapy treatment proves safe, effective for factor VII deficiency

A single injection. That's all someone with a factor VII deficiency would need for a life-long cure, thanks to a new gene therapy treatment developed in a collaboration of researchers at the University of North Carolina and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

20 Jan 2016

Anthony Nolan introduces new tissue typing method that could revolutionise stem cell transplantation

Anthony Nolan has today launched a new tissue typing method that could significantly improve stem cell transplant outcomes.

8 Jan 2016

“Anemia and Hemoglobin Testing” guide published by EKF Diagnostics

EKF Diagnostics, the global in vitro diagnostics company, announces the publication of its new guide, “Anemia and hemoglobin testing” .

From EKF Diagnostics 7 Jan 2016

Treatment with antiplatelet therapy does not reduce pain crises in children with sickle cell disease

Treatment with the antiplatelet agent prasugrel does not significantly reduce the rate of pain crises or severe lung complications in children with sickle cell disease, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine describing one of the largest and most geographically diverse international clinical trials on sickle cell disease to date.

9 Dec 2015

Experimental gene therapy may improve health outcomes for patients with some forms of blood disorders

New research adds to a growing body of evidence that gene therapy, an experimental technique that involves correcting or replacing a person's mutated or malfunctioning genes, may improve health outcomes for patients with inherited bleeding and immune disorders as well as some forms of blood cancer.

7 Dec 2015

Sickle cell disease treatment may help protect kidney function in patients

A drug used to treat sickle cell disease may provide an added benefit of protecting patients' kidney function, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

20 Nov 2015

Lab experiment leads researchers to major red blood cell discovery

A bizarre result of a routine lab experiment has led researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine to an unexpected new way to trigger the production of red blood cells. This could represent a significant step forward in the battle against anemia, benefitting people with diabetes, people with kidney disease or cancer, and older people for whom anemia can become a chronic problem.

3 Nov 2015

Researchers explain how incurable type of blood cancer develops

Researchers in the West Midlands have made a breakthrough in explaining how an incurable type of blood cancer develops from an often symptomless prior blood disorder. The findings could lead to more effective treatments and ways to identify those most at risk of developing the cancer.

18 Oct 2015

FDA approves Promacta to treat pediatric patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Promacta (eltrombopag) to treat low blood platelet count in pediatric patients – ages one year and older – with a rare blood disorder called chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Promacta can be used in these children when they have not achieved an appropriate response using other ITP medicines or surgery to remove the spleen.

9 Oct 2015

FAU researcher finds unique way to monitor sickle cell disease

A researcher from Florida Atlantic University has come up with a unique way to monitor sickle cell disease -- a serious blood disorder -- using a smart phone. With a $166,935 grant from the National Science Foundation, E. (Sarah) Du, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering in FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science, and principal investigator, will develop a portable smart sensor and a phone application for patients to analyze and store the results of their blood tests on a smart phone.

23 Sep 2015

Novartis receives FDA approval for expanded use of Promacta for younger children with rare blood disorder

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved an expanded use for Promacta to include children 1 year of age and older with chronic immune thrombocytopenia who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy.

26 Aug 2015

Cheshire woman searches for lifesaving blood stem cell donor

A search is taking place to find someone with a matching tissue-type who can donate blood stem cells to save the life of a woman from Cheshire.

20 Aug 2015

Researchers track down key gene mutation responsible for causing acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Two medical researchers from the Children's Hospital of Michigan and the Wayne State University School of Medicine have published the results of a nearly 10-year investigation that identified a key gene mutation that can trigger acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, and several other types of cancer.

18 Jun 2015

Novartis announces FDA approval of Promacta for treatment of children with chronic ITP

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Promacta (eltrombopag) for the treatment of children six years and older with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy. Promacta was approved by the FDA in 2008 for use in adult patients with the same condition.

15 Jun 2015

MSK begins CAR T cell clinical trial for children with relapsed or treatment-resistant ALL

Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are pioneering a new groundbreaking clinical trial for children and young adults with relapsed or treatment-resistant acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) by using one of the most promising methods of cancer treatment today, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells.

12 Apr 2015

New research finds old blood just as good as fresh blood

Just like milk and many other foods, blood used for transfusions is perishable. But contrary to popular belief, new research shows that blood stored for three weeks is just as good as fresh blood - findings published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

18 Mar 2015

Longer donor leukocyte telomere length linked to improved survival following HCT

Among patients with severe aplastic anemia who received stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor, longer leukocyte (white blood cells) telomere length (a structure at the end of a chromosome) was associated with increased overall survival at 5 years, according to a study in the February 10 issue of JAMA.

12 Feb 2015

Spark Therapeutics, Pfizer partner to develop SPK-FIX for potential treatment of hemophilia B

Spark Therapeutics, a late-stage gene therapy company developing treatments for debilitating genetic diseases, announced today that it has entered into a global collaboration with Pfizer Inc. for the development and potential commercialization of SPK-FIX, a development program advancing proprietary, bio-engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for the potential treatment of hemophilia B.

8 Dec 2014

Emerging strategies to boost healthy RBCs may reduce burden of anemia linked to blood disorders

Emerging treatment approaches may reduce the burden of anemia associated with blood disorders by enhancing production of healthy red blood cells, according to data presented today at the 56th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition.

7 Dec 2014