Antibody News and Research

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An antibody is a blood protein that is produced in response to and counteracts an antigen. Antibodies are produced in response to disease and help the body fight against the particular disease. In this way, antibodies help the body develop an immunity to disease.

Possible new SARS case in Beijing, China

On April 22, 2004, the Chinese Ministry of Health reported a possible case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in a 20-year-old woman who works as a nurse in a hospital in Beijing. If confirmed, this will be the first case of SARS since January 2004, when Chinese health authorities confirmed SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection in three persons in Guangdong Province.

22 Apr 2004

500,000 patients have now been treated with REMICADE® worldwide

Centocor, Inc., announced today that more than a half million patients worldwide have now been treated with the anti-TNF agent REMICADE® (infliximab) since it was introduced in the United States five years ago.

21 Apr 2004

Possible breakthrough in AIDS and cancer research

Mayo Clinic researchers have found a way to revive immunity in mice that have abnormal or deficient immune systems. The discovery may lead to a means of restoring immunity to individuals with immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS and cancer.

20 Apr 2004

An experimental vaccine based on a critical piece of the SARS virus

An experimental vaccine based on a critical piece of the SARS virus protects mice from SARS infection, researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have found.

19 Apr 2004

Cancer-specific protein offers new target for the development of melanoma vaccine

Scientists from the Cancer Vaccine Collaborative (CVC) have discovered that the cancer-specific protein, SSX-2, induces a spontaneous immunological reaction against cancer cells in melanoma patients, offering a new target for the development of a therapeutic melanoma vaccine. SSX-2 is the prototype of the SSX family, and is part of a larger group of proteins known as cancer/testis (CT) antigens.

16 Apr 2004

New nose cancer test kit promises to simplify the process and speed cancer testing

Inflexion a Singapore based offshoot of Nanyang Technological University has announced a new kit to test for and diagnose nose cancer. The kit was prepared some 3 years ago and had been forgotten until 3 young entrepreneurs realised it's commercial potential.

12 Apr 2004

More evidence needed to link symptoms like tics or behavioral problems to a strep infection

T-cells in lupus patients avoid apoptosis and are stimulated to produce antibodies against the patients own DNA

Researchers studying autoimmune diseases have found a molecular mechanism that explains how T-cells in lupus patients avoid apoptosis and are stimulated to produce antibodies against the patients own DNA.

1 Apr 2004

SARS virus vaccine stimulates protective immune response

An experimental vaccine prevents the SARS virus from replicating in laboratory mice, according to a new report in the April 1 issue of Nature. Scientists at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, developed the vaccine. The vaccine was tested in a mouse model of SARS infection recently validated by other NIAID investigators.

31 Mar 2004

DakoCytomation has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize pharmacogenomic diagnostic tests in the field of oncology

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced today a license agreement with DakoCytomation A/S (Glostrup, Denmark), under which DakoCytomation has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize pharmacogenomic diagnostic tests in the field of oncology based on the TRAIL Receptor-1 (TRAIL-R1) and TRAIL Receptor-2 (TRAIL-R2) proteins.

31 Mar 2004

Newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma linked to monkey virus DNA

Examination of tumors in patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma found that half of them show evidence of a monkey virus DNA that may have originated from contaminated polio vaccines.

30 Mar 2004

Human Genome Sciences can begin cardiovascular disease research

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.announced today that it has received a clinical development milestone payment from its partner, GlaxoSmithKline, related to the initiation of Phase 1 clinical trials of 677116 for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. 677116 is a small-molecule inhibitor of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), an enzyme associated with the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

30 Mar 2004

Trial of new drug that may halt progression of Type I Diabetes

The results of a long-term clinical trial on a new drug designed to inhibit the progression of type I diabetes was announced at the International Diabetes Society meeting in Cambridge, England, March 29. The findings of the 18-month long clinical trial confirm the drug's efficacy in improving a diabetic's ability to produce insulin.

30 Mar 2004

Tadpole research may help fight tumours

There's something magical about tadpoles. The mere mention of this little creature sparks happy memories of children screaming with delight as they splash in a shallow stream trying to capture some of the tiny swimmers in a cup. The real magic happens as the children witness the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog

29 Mar 2004

Researchers tap modified plant viruses to ward off cervical cancer-causing infections

New vaccinations to prevent infections that lead to cervical cancer and targeted therapeutics aimed at breast cancer were examples of research highlights presented by scientists today at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. Scientists described advances that feed into the drug development 'pipeline,' and show strong promise for controlling existing tumors or addressing the pathogen that causes tumors.

29 Mar 2004

Novel vaccine technology to suppress the growth of certain tumors

MedImmune, Inc. and Cerus Corporation have announced preclinical results demonstrating the effectiveness of a novel therapeutic vaccine technology in suppressing the growth of certain tumors.

From Baxter International Inc. 29 Mar 2004

Haemophilia Society President presents Hepatitis C (HCV) Facts to UK Government

Haemophilia Society President to challenge government for second time in Lords question on proposed Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme On Thursday 25 March, the first business in the House of Lords will be further questioning of Ministers by the Haemophilia Society’s President, Lord Morris of Manchester.

27 Mar 2004

New oral test for HIV approved by FDA

FDA today approved the use of oral fluid samples with a rapid HIV diagnostic test kit that provides screening results with over 99 percent accuracy in as little as 20 minutes. Until now, all rapid HIV tests required the use of blood in order to get such rapid results.

27 Mar 2004

New patent to develop antibody therapies for cancer and other diseases

The University of Rochester Medical Center and Vaccinex, Inc. announced today the award of a key U.S. patent for a technology platform that can assist researchers in finding new treatments for cancer and other diseases. While the technology has many applications, one promising use is for the identification of certain proteins, called monoclonal antibodies, that are capable of seeking out and destroying harmful cells. Several companies have recently developed monoclonal antibodies as treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions. Under an exclusive, worldwide license from the University of Rochester, Vaccinex is using the patented technology to discover and develop new monoclonal antibody therapies.

26 Mar 2004

Bionomics files novel angiogenesis genes patent

Bionomics Limited has announced that it had filed a further international patent application that covers 496 proprietary angiogenesis drug targets. The international patent application applies to genes that Bionomics has identified using advanced technologies such as microarray and bioinformatics analyses. These technologies have enabled Bionomics to identify novel angiogenesis genes that have not been identified by other companies or research groups.

26 Mar 2004