Efficacy News and Research

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Rheumatoid arthritis treatment foiled by gum disease

Periodontal disease may reduce the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, preliminary research suggests.

15 Oct 2012

Researchers identify keys and doors of Anaplasmataceae tick-borne bacterium

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers have identified the "keys" and "doors" of a bacterium responsible for a series of tick-transmitted diseases. These findings may point researchers toward the development of a single vaccine that protects against members of an entire family of bacteria that cause disease in humans, domestic animals and livestock.

15 Oct 2012

Gardasil does not increase sexual activity in girls

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine known as Gardasil is not associated with an increase in pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, or contraceptive counseling, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online today in the journal Pediatrics.

15 Oct 2012

Merck announces results from odanacatib Phase II trial on post-menopausal osteoporosis

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced results from a Phase II trial for odanacatib, an investigational cathepsin K (cat-K) inhibitor in development for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.

15 Oct 2012

FDA expands approved indication for Genentech’s ACTEMRA to treat active rheumatoid arthritis

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved indication for ACTEMRA (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

13 Oct 2012

Curcumin can inhibit formation of prostate cancer metastases

Powdered turmeric has been used for centuries to treat osteoarthritis and other illnesses. Its active ingredient, curcumin, inhibits inflammatory reactions. A new study led by a research team at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit-t (LMU) in Munich now shows that it can also inhibit formation of metastases.

13 Oct 2012

One rule for one and one for another with diabetes

A joint consensus statement from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association encourages a shift in attitude over glycemic management in Type 2 diabetes.

12 Oct 2012

Biogen Idec announces new data from BG-12 Phase 3 studies on RRMS

Today Biogen Idec announced new data from studies evaluating oral BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate), which provide further evidence supporting its strong clinical and radiological effects in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and reinforce its favorable safety profile seen to date.

12 Oct 2012

Results from Aldagen’s ALD-401 Phase II trial on ischemic stroke

Early results of a Phase II intra-arterial stem cell trial for ischemic stroke showed no adverse events associated with the first 10 patients, allowing investigators to expand the study to a targeted total of 100 patients.

12 Oct 2012

Investigators provide overview of role of dopamine in modulating the immune system

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is associated with emotions, movement, and the brain's pleasure and reward system. In the current issue of Advances in Neuroimmune Biology, investigators provide a broad overview of the direct and indirect role of dopamine in modulating the immune system and discuss how recent research has opened up new possibilities for treating diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis or even the autoimmune disorders.

11 Oct 2012

Poor sleep shows cardiovascular links in adolescents

Sleep disturbance in healthy adolescents is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in later life, research suggests.

11 Oct 2012

MDD with subthreshold hypomania ‘should be merged with bipolar II’

Patients with major depressive disorder plus subthreshold hypomania exhibit significant differences in disease course, symptoms, treatment-seeking rates, and other characteristics compared with those with major depression alone, research shows.

11 Oct 2012

Enrollment complete in Euthymics’ amitifadine phase 2b/3a trial for major depressive disorder

Euthymics Bioscience, Inc. today announced completion of enrollment in the advanced clinical study of its lead product candidate amitifadine (formerly called EB-1010), a novel serotonin-preferring triple reuptake inhibitor for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

11 Oct 2012

Transplanted neural stem cells able to produce new myelin in children with PMD

A Phase I clinical trial led by investigators from the University of California, San Francisco and sponsored by Stem Cells Inc., showed that neural stem cells successfully engrafted into the brains of patients and appear to have produced myelin.

11 Oct 2012

Final results from Covidien’s DEFINITIVE LE study on peripheral arterial disease

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced final 12-month results from its DEFINITIVE LE (Determination of Effectiveness of SilverHawk / TurboHawk Peripheral Plaque Excision Systems for the Treatment of Infrainguinal Vessels/Lower Extremities) study.

11 Oct 2012

Six-gene signature can predict survival in men with aggressive prostate cancer

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a six-gene signature that can be used in a test to predict survival in men with aggressive prostate cancer, according to new research published in the October issue of The Lancet Oncology.

11 Oct 2012