Autoimmune Disease News and Research

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Autoimmune Disease is a condition in which the body recognizes its own tissues as foreign and directs an immune response against them.

Scientists identify the role of vitamin D in activation of T cells

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defenses and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system - T cells - will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.

8 Mar 2010

Peptimmune granted US patent for PI-2301 peptide copolymer in treatment of multiple sclerosis

Peptimmune, Inc. a privately held biotechnology company, announced today the grant of US Patent Number 7,655,221 (the '221 patent) which protects the target product profile for its PI-2301 peptide copolymer for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases.

6 Mar 2010

Study shows clear link between Vitamin D levels and accumulation of fat in muscle tissue

There's an epidemic in progress, and it has nothing to do with the flu. A ground-breaking study published in the March 2010 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found an astonishing 59 per cent of study subjects had too little Vitamin D in their blood. Nearly a quarter of the group had serious deficiencies (less than 20 ng/ml) of this important vitamin.

6 Mar 2010

'Anti-gluten pill' needed

In the early 1980s, about one per cent of adults in Finland had gluten intolerance, but the figure has since gone up to two per cent by the 2000s.

5 Mar 2010

Diamedix and Delta Biologicals’ suite of diagnostic tests: Fumouze Diagnostics to be exclusive distributor in France

IVAX Diagnostics, Inc., a fully integrated global in vitro diagnostics company, announced that Diamedix Corporation has signed a distribution agreement with Fumouze Diagnostics, a division of Sofibel S.A.S., of Paris, France, pursuant to which Fumouze Diagnostics will be the exclusive third party distributor of Diamedix Corporation and Delta Biologicals S.r.l.’s suite of diagnostic tests in France. Diamedix is a U.S. subsidiary of IVAX Diagnostics and Delta Biologicals is IVAX Diagnostics’ subsidiary located in Italy. The initial term of the distribution agreement is three years.

5 Mar 2010

Isotechnika Pharma receives grant of $237,069 to support NICAM program

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. today announced that it has received funding approval from the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) for its Non-Immunosuppressive Cyclosporin Analog Molecules (NICAM) program.

5 Mar 2010

Severe inflammatory diseases: Blocking "death messenger" might be a promising treatment

The signaling molecule CD95L, known as "death messenger," causes an inflammatory process in injured tissue after spinal cord injuries and prevents its healing. This discovery was published by scientists of the German Cancer Research Center. In mice, the researchers found out that if they switch off CD95L, the injured spinal cord heals and the animals regain better ability to move. Therefore, substances which block the death messenger might offer a new approach in the treatment of severe inflammatory diseases.

4 Mar 2010

AARDA report examining current state of AD released at the National Autoimmune Diseases Summit

A groundbreaking new report from the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, examining the current state of autoimmune disease (AD) and its economic and social impact globally and in the U.S., was released today at the National Autoimmune Diseases Summit: The Global State of Autoimmunity Today, held to kick-off National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month.

4 Mar 2010

Seattle Genetics generates $110M through ADC technology license agreements

Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced today that it has achieved a milestone under its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration with Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group.

3 Mar 2010

EMA validates Lux Biosciences' voclosporin MAA

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) filed by its partner, Lux Biosciences, Inc., for voclosporin. Following validation of the MAA, the dossier is distributed to members of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for formal review, which is expected to take one year.

2 Mar 2010

Cause of multiple sclerosis: Researchers test autoimmune hypothesis

A non-pathogenic bacterium is capable to trigger an autoimmune disease similar to the multiple sclerosis in the mouse, the model animal which helps to explain how human diseases work. This is what a group of researchers from the Catholic University of Rome, led by Francesco Ria (Institute of General Pathology) and Giovanni Delogu (Institute of Microbiology), have explained for the first time in a recently published article on the Journal of Immunology.

26 Feb 2010

Increase in anti-Apo A-I, anti-HDL and anti-CRP may lead to atherosclerosis in SLE patients

A study by researchers in Australia and the United Kingdom suggests that autoantibodies to fat binding proteins significantly increase in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active disease. This increase in anti-apolipoprotein (anti-Apo A-I), anti-high-density lipoprotein (anti-HDL), and anti-C-reactive protein (anti-CRP) may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in SLE patients, placing them at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

25 Feb 2010

SSRIs exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and may provide drug development opportunities for RA

A new study found that fluoxetine (Prozac-) and citalopram (Celexa-) treatment significantly inhibited disease progression of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Research led by Sandra Sacre, Ph.D. from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) in the UK studied the anti-arthritic potential of these drugs, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), most commonly used to treat depression.

25 Feb 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals presents IMO-3100 TLR antagonist mechanism of action data at Keystone conference

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today presented data on the mechanism of action of IMO-3100, an antagonist of Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9, in a preclinical primate model at the Keystone Symposia conference “Tolerance and Autoimmunity” being held February 21-26 in Taos, New Mexico. Idera is developing IMO-3100 for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The presentation entitled “IMO-3100, a novel antagonist, suppresses TLR7- and TLR9-mediated immune responses in non-human primates” was made by Idera scientists.

24 Feb 2010

Researchers receive grant to study how ILD appears in patients with autoimmune diseases

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati Interstitial Lung Disease Center have received a grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to study ways ILD first appears in certain patient groups with autoimmune diseases and how to more efficiently diagnose and treat it.

24 Feb 2010

FDA Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee supports approval of XIFAXAN 550 mg for management of HE

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today reported that the Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA has recommended by a vote of 14 to 4 in favor of the approval of XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) Tablets, 550 mg for the maintenance of remission of hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

23 Feb 2010

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from Phase 2 clinical trials for IBS and type 2 diabetes

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, today updated its drug development progress and reported financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2009.

23 Feb 2010

Slightly to moderately elevated CRP levels in patients undergoing CABG surgery: Implications

A new study published in the March issue of Anesthesiology raises awareness for an additional risk category for patients undergoing routine coronary artery bypass surgery - low to moderate levels of inflammation.

23 Feb 2010

Isotechnika Labs amends Isodiagnostika sales agreement with Paladin Labs

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Isotechnika Labs, has amended its agreement with Paladin Labs Inc. concerning its remaining stake in the revenue stream from the Isodiagnostika business sold to Paladin on June 18, 2009. Under the agreement, Isotechnika Labs was entitled to receive a revenue stream equivalent to 88 percent of the net profits of Isodiagnostika through to June 18 2016.

18 Feb 2010

Meda publishes 2009 year-end report

“The Meda Group expects to achieve sales of about SEK 13,000 million and an EBITDA of about SEK 4,200 million for full-year 2009.”

16 Feb 2010

Autoimmune Disease News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists identify the role of vitamin D in activation of T cells

Peptimmune granted US patent for PI-2301 peptide copolymer in treatment of multiple sclerosis

Study shows clear link between Vitamin D levels and accumulation of fat in muscle tissue

'Anti-gluten pill' needed

Diamedix and Delta Biologicals’ suite of diagnostic tests: Fumouze Diagnostics to be exclusive distributor in France

Isotechnika Pharma receives grant of $237,069 to support NICAM program

Severe inflammatory diseases: Blocking "death messenger" might be a promising treatment

AARDA report examining current state of AD released at the National Autoimmune Diseases Summit

Seattle Genetics generates $110M through ADC technology license agreements

EMA validates Lux Biosciences' voclosporin MAA

Cause of multiple sclerosis: Researchers test autoimmune hypothesis

Increase in anti-Apo A-I, anti-HDL and anti-CRP may lead to atherosclerosis in SLE patients

SSRIs exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and may provide drug development opportunities for RA

Idera Pharmaceuticals presents IMO-3100 TLR antagonist mechanism of action data at Keystone conference

Researchers receive grant to study how ILD appears in patients with autoimmune diseases

FDA Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee supports approval of XIFAXAN 550 mg for management of HE

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from Phase 2 clinical trials for IBS and type 2 diabetes

Slightly to moderately elevated CRP levels in patients undergoing CABG surgery: Implications

Isotechnika Labs amends Isodiagnostika sales agreement with Paladin Labs

Meda publishes 2009 year-end report

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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