Ankylosing Spondylitis News and Research

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Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a painful and progressive form of spinal arthritis and symptoms of inflammatory back pain often first present in people before age 35. It typically begins in the late teens and early twenties and in severe cases may result in fusing spinal vertebrae and may cause structural damage to hips and other joints. Often misdiagnosed as "just back pain" or undifferentiated arthritis, AS is a systemic inflammatory disease that, in addition to its effect on the spine, can affect internal organs, peripheral joints and vision. The Arthritis Research Campaign, estimates that on the European continent, AS prevalence ranges from 0.2 to 1 percent of the entire population. The Spondylitis Association of America estimates that between 350,000 and one million people in the U.S. suffer from Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Study implicates 'arms race' between genes and germs

Biologists have found new evidence of why mice, people and other vertebrate animals carry thousands of varieties of genes to make immune-system proteins named MHCs--even though some of those genes make vertebrate animals susceptible to infections and to autoimmune diseases.

9 Feb 2012

Johnson & Johnson fourth quarter sales increase 3.9% to $16.3 billion

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $16.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 3.9% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. Operational sales increased 4.0% and the negative impact of currency was 0.1%.

24 Jan 2012

EMA CHMP issues positive opinion to MSD's REMICADE for treatment of pediatric UC

MSD today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending the use of REMICADE (infliximab) in the treatment of severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in pediatric patients ages 6 to 17 years, who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy, including corticosteroids and 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine, or who are intolerant to or have medical contraindications for such therapies.

21 Jan 2012

PDUFA goal date of NDA for Protalix's taliglucerase alfa extended

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., announced today that it received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the FDA has extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of the New Drug Application (NDA) for taliglucerase alfa to May 1, 2012, a three-month extension from the previous PDUFA date of February 1, 2012.

6 Dec 2011

TNF inhibitors may minimally increase risk of serious infections

Biologic drugs have revolutionized treatment of autoimmune diseases during the past decade despite belief there is an increased risk for serious infections from using them. But new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics reveals that a class of biologics called tumor necrosis factor antagonists, or TNF inhibitors, may only minimally increase risk compared to more traditional therapies.

17 Nov 2011

Celgene to initiate apremilast Phase III placebo-controlled trial for ankylosing spondylitis

Celgene International Sàrl, a subsidiary of Celgene Corporation, today announced data from a Phase II study of apremilast, its investigational oral immunomodulatory compound, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were presented at the American College of Rheumatology Scientific Meeting in Chicago, IL.

9 Nov 2011

Five-year results from Abbott's HUMIRA ATLAS study on ankylosing spondylitis

Abbott today announced five-year results from the open-label extension of the ATLAS study, which evaluated the long-term impact of treatment with HUMIRA (adalimumab) on disease activity, including spinal mobility in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

8 Nov 2011

Abbott announces results from HUMIRA Phase 3 study on axSpA

Abbott today announced results from the Phase 3 ABILITY-1 study of HUMIRA (adalimumab) in patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

7 Nov 2011

Potential predictors of spinal damage progression in people with spondyloarthritis

The presence of syndesmophytes (bony growths in the spine), acute phase reactants (proteins that are released into the blood in response to inflammation), and smoking status can all serve as predictors for the progression of structural damage in the spine in people with spondyloarthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

POZEN third quarter revenue increases to $4.9 million

POZEN Inc., a pharmaceutical company committed to transforming medicine that transforms lives, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

3 Nov 2011

Abbott to highlight latest research findings on HUMIRA at ACR annual meeting

Abbott scientists and independent researchers will highlight the latest research findings on HUMIRA (adalimumab) at this year's American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting, scheduled for November 5-9 in Chicago.

3 Nov 2011

Johnson & Johnson third quarter sales increase 6.8% to $16.0 billion

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $16.0 billion for the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 6.8% as compared to the third quarter of 2010. Operational results increased 2.6% and the positive impact of currency was 4.2%. Domestic sales declined 3.7%.

18 Oct 2011

Janssen Biotech receives FDA approval for Remicade to treat UC in children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Remicade (infliximab) to treat moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in children older than 6 years who have had inadequate response to conventional therapy.

26 Sep 2011

HealthWell Foundation introduces new lupus fund

The HealthWell Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to insured patients facing a variety of chronic and life-altering illnesses, announces the launch of a new fund supporting treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus.

22 Sep 2011

UTHealth inaugurates new center for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases research

The University of Texas Health Science at Houston (UTHealth) announced the opening of a center devoted to researching and treating diseases associated with malfunctioning immune systems.

2 Sep 2011

FDA accepts Protalix taliglucerase alfa NDA resubmission for review

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the resubmission of the taliglucerase alfa New Drug Application (NDA) following the Company's receipt of a Complete Response Letter (CRL) in February 2011.

17 Aug 2011

Humira defect lawyers file lawsuit against Abbott in Texas state court

Humira defect lawyers filed a lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories in Texas state court claiming Abbott's blockbuster drug, Humira, caused a life-threatening disease, leukemia.

30 Jul 2011

Celgene reports second quarter total revenue of $1.18 billion

Celgene Corporation announced non-GAAP net income of $417 million, or non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.89, for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of 2010 was $323 million, or non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.69.

28 Jul 2011

POZEN reports revenue of $4.6 million for second quarter 2011

POZEN Inc., a pharmaceutical company committed to transforming medicine that transforms lives, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

28 Jul 2011

Janssen receives FDA Complete Response letter for SIMPONI sBLA to treat RA

Janssen Biotech, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response letter for its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for SIMPONI.

25 Jul 2011