Amyloidosis News and Research

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Amyloidosis is the term applied to a group of conditions caused by deposits of an abnormal protein called amyloid. This rare but serious condition affects between 1 and 5 people in every 100,000 each year in the UK. The condition is mainly seen among the elderly.

BELLUS Health, Celtic Therapeutics initiate KIACTA global confirmatory phase III clinical study for AA amyloidosis

BELLUS Health Inc. and Celtic Therapeutics announced today that a global confirmatory phase III clinical study was initiated on December 14, 2010 for KIACTA™ (eprodisate). KIACTA™ is a drug candidate being developed for the treatment of AA amyloidosis, a life-threatening orphan disease that occurs in patients with long-lasting inflammatory conditions, most commonly due to rheumatoid arthritis. The study is designed to confirm the safety and efficacy of KIACTA™ in preventing renal function decline in patients with AA amyloidosis.

16 Dec 2010

BUSM awarded NCI EDRN, DOD grants to develop novel procedures for early detection of lung cancer

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have been awarded a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Early Detection Research Network (EDRN), as well as a four-year, $1.3 million grant from the Department of Defense (DOD). These grants will allow the scientists to develop novel and complementary procedures for early detection of lung cancer in high-risk patients.

15 Dec 2010

UAB researchers pinpoint protein that causes nephrotic syndrome

University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have pinpointed a protein that compromises the kidney's filtering ability, causing nephrotic syndrome, and demonstrated that a naturally occurring precursor of an acid in the body offers potential for treating some forms of the condition.

13 Dec 2010

EPO upholds Alnylam's Tuschl II 1407044 patent

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that the European Patent Office (EPO) has fully upheld its Tuschl II '044 (EP 1407044) patent in oral opposition proceedings held in Munich. Specifically, the originally granted claims of the '044 patent were upheld without any modification and were deemed valid and supported by the EPO.

3 Dec 2010

Study reveals role of VSV in killing cancer cells through turning off major survival signal

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified a mechanism by which specific viruses acting as oncolytic agents can enter and kill cancer cells. This finding, which is currently featured in an online edition of the Journal of Virology, could help lead to the development of more targeted treatments against many types of cancer.

2 Dec 2010

Researchers show an oncolytic virus switches off cancer cell survival signal

1 Dec 2010

Bacterial study confirms TLR2 signaling vital for activating human airway epithelial cells

Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have demonstrated that commensal species of the genus Neisseriae are low inducers of human airway epithelial cell responses as compared to the pathogenic species.

24 Nov 2010

Experts formulate research related to psychological adjustment and traumatic brain injury

Five U.S. federal agencies recently cosponsored a set of expert work groups to formulate common data elements for research related to psychological adjustment and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

19 Nov 2010

Alnylam presents data on RNAi technologies at MIT Center Summit

Alnylam Biotherapeutics, a division of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, presented new data at the MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation's Biomanufacturing Summit from its platform efforts aimed at developing RNAi technologies for applications in biologics manufacturing.

19 Nov 2010

Alnylam comments on Roche's corporate restructuring for RNAi therapeutics

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a leading RNAi therapeutics company, commented today on Roche's corporate restructuring and its implications on RNAi therapeutics.

18 Nov 2010

BUSM professor wins 2010 Maurice Wood Award for Lifetime Contribution to Primary Care Research

Larry Culpepper, MD, MPH, chair and professor of family medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and chief of family medicine at Boston Medical Center (BMC), is the recipient of the 2010 Maurice Wood Award for Lifetime Contribution to Primary Care Research.

16 Nov 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals presents ALN-VSP Phase I data for liver cancer at Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today presented additional interim data from its ongoing Phase I trial with ALN-VSP, a systemically delivered RNAi therapeutic for the treatment of advanced solid tumors with liver involvement. The data were presented at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium being held in New York City.

11 Nov 2010

Anti-TNF therapies may reduce Alzheimer's risk among people with rheumatoid arthritis

Anti-TNF therapies commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis have been found to potentially reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia among people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

8 Nov 2010

Alnylam third quarter revenue increases from $24.2 million to $27.7 million

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today reported its consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010, and company highlights.

4 Nov 2010

VA begins distributing disability benefits to Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam Veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure.

2 Nov 2010

Alnylam to present data on RNAi therapeutics for fibrotic diseases at The Liver Meeting

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today it will present several poster presentations at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases being held in Boston, Mass from October 29 - November 2, 2010.

30 Oct 2010

Systemic amyloidosis patient to receive triple organ transplant

In 2005, then 40-year-old Walt McGuire was playing hockey twice a week, working full-time and chasing his young daughter. Then one day, he noticed after one trip up the stairs to catch her, he couldn't catch his breath. A few days later his legs were swollen. After numerous trips to different doctors, McGuire finally was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called amyloidosis.

28 Oct 2010

Celtic, Resolvyx enter option agreement for RX-10045 to treat dry eye syndrome

Celtic Therapeutics Holdings L.P. a successor firm to Celtic Pharma, and Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Resolvyx) announced today that they have entered into an option agreement relating to Resolvyx's RX-10045, a late-stage program for the treatment of dry eye syndrome and other ophthalmic conditions.

26 Oct 2010

New findings provide new clues on pathogenetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease

Pathological protein deposits linked to Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy can be triggered not only by the administration of pathogenic misfolded protein fragments directly into the brain but also by peripheral administration outside the brain.

22 Oct 2010

Tasly, ProteoTech to co-develop Exebryl-1(R) medication for Alzheimer's disease treatment

Tasly Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and ProteoTech, Inc. today announced an agreement to co-develop ProteoTech's novel small molecule therapeutic, Exebryl-1(R), for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

5 Oct 2010