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.

LFAGW celebrates 35th anniversary

The Lupus Foundation of America Greater Washington Chapter (LFAGW) will celebrate 35 years of success providing free day-to-day education, advice and resources for the 75,000+ people with lupus and their families in the greater D.C. area.

24 Nov 2009

Seattle Genetics and Agensys expand ADC collaboration

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) and Agensys, Inc., an affiliate of Astellas, announced today an expansion of the companies’ antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration. Under the amended agreement, Agensys will pay a $12 million fee for exclusive rights to ADC licenses against additional antigen targets. Seattle Genetics also receives an option to co-develop another ADC at the time of investigational new drug (IND) submission.

24 Nov 2009

Research suggests common oral bacterium may exacerbate autoimmune disease

Current research suggests that a common oral bacterium may exacerbate autoimmune disease. The related report by Nichols et al, "Unique Lipids from a Common Human Bacterium Represent a New Class of TLR2 Ligands Capable of Enhancing Autoimmunity," appears in the December 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

23 Nov 2009

Top-line data from Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' LX1031 Phase 2 study for IBS to be presented

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today that top-line data from its Phase 2 clinical study with LX1031 in patients with non-constipating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) will be presented at GASTRO 2009 in London this week. Results from the study, which showed a significant improvement in IBS symptoms, will be presented by Dr. Philip M. Brown, Lexicon's senior vice president of clinical development, on November 25, 2009 at 2:30 pm local time at the session entitled, "Therapeutic insights in functional digestive disorders."

23 Nov 2009

Discovery holds promise in fighting cancer, AIDS and autoimmune disorders

21 Nov 2009

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that UAB researchers, in conjunction with Japanese researchers, are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses.

19 Nov 2009

Final results from ImmuPharma's Phase IIb trial of LUPUZOR

ImmuPharma PLC the specialist discovery and development pharmaceutical company is pleased to announce today the final results from a Phase IIb trial of LUPUZOR™ in active patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Lupuzor™ administered at 200 mcg once-a-month for 3 months plus standard of care achieved a clinically significant improvement in patient response rate as measured by the combined score compared to placebo plus standard of care.

19 Nov 2009

ScienceWorksForUS launched by the representatives of public and private research universities

Representatives of the nation's leading public and private research universities, joined by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Members of Congress, today announced the launch of ScienceWorksForUS, an initiative that will highlight the scientific research and related activities that have been made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the stimulus.

18 Nov 2009

Phase II clinical study to evaluate Nanocort commenced

Galapagos NV announced today that it has started a Phase II clinical study to evaluate Nanocort's effectiveness in treating flares in multiple sclerosis (MS). Nanocort combines less frequent treatment with lower dosage and potentially more effective delivery than other MS flare treatments.

17 Nov 2009

Seattle Genetics commences phase I clinical trial of SGN-75 ADC for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Seattle Genetics, Inc. today announced that it has initiated a phase I clinical trial of SGN-75 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma and relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. SGN-75 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CD70 that utilizes the company’s proprietary technology.

16 Nov 2009

Research team identifies five new gene regions that raise the risk of childhood-onset IBD

In the largest, most comprehensive genetic analysis of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an international research team has identified five new gene regions, including one involved in a biological pathway that helps drive the painful inflammation of the digestive tract that characterizes the disease.

16 Nov 2009

Positive results from Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' LX1031 Phase 2 study for IBS

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the company's investigational new drug, LX1031, a tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) inhibitor, demonstrated positive results in clinically important parameters for the treatment of non-constipating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

13 Nov 2009

arGentis Pharmaceuticals to commence human clinical evaluation of ARG301 oral altered peptide ligand

arGentis Pharmaceuticals, LLC today announced that it will collaborate with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Memphis (VAMC) to initiate the first human clinical evaluation of an oral altered peptide ligand (APL), ARG301, in a Phase I study of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.

12 Nov 2009

Rituximab drug potentially effective for treating Graves' eye disease, shows study

A small group of patients with severe Graves' eye disease experienced rapid improvement of their symptoms - and improved vision - following treatment with the drug rituximab. Inflammation around their eyes and damage to the optic nerve were significantly reduced. The same patients had not previously responded to steroids, a common treatment for Graves' eye disease.

7 Nov 2009

National Institutes of Health grants $6-million for brain disease research

Brown University, in collaboration with two other institutions, has been awarded a five-year, $6-million National Institutes of Health program project grant to help determine how a virus that can cause a rare brain disease attaches to host cells.

6 Nov 2009

Study on asbestos-related diseases in Libby launched

Over nearly a century, thousands of residents and workers in Libby, MT, have been exposed to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore, leading to markedly higher rates of lung disease and autoimmune disorders, and causing to Libby in 2002 to be added to the federal Environmental Protection Agency's "National Priorities List."

4 Nov 2009

SQI Diagnostics' SQiDworks automated platform and IgXPLEX RA assay receive FDA marketing clearance

SQI Diagnostics Inc., a medical systems automation company focused on evolving laboratory-based biomarker testing, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Company's automated SQiDworks(TM) Diagnostics Platform and its multiplexed IgXPLEX(TM) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) assay for marketing in the United States.

2 Nov 2009

Avila Therapeutics presents preclinical study data of its AVL-181 HCV protease inhibitor

Avila Therapeutics™, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel covalent drugs that treat diseases through protein silencing, presented results of preclinical studies on its highly selective, small molecule Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) protease inhibitor, AVL-181. Avila showed that AVL-181 promoted complete viral clearance in vitro when used at clinically-relevant concentrations in combination with other HCV therapies.

2 Nov 2009

LRI and lupus organizations congratulate HGS and GlaxoSmithKline for achieving historical landmark

The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) and its National Coalition of state and local lupus organizations congratulate Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline for achieving an historical landmark - the second positive phase 3 clinical trial of Benlysta (belimumab), the first successfully tested new drug developed specifically for people with systemic lupus.

2 Nov 2009

HGS and GSK announce results from phase III clinical trials of BENLYSTA

Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced positive results from BLISS-76, the second of two large-scale phase III clinical trials of BENLYSTA(TM) (belimumab) for treating systemic lupus. A full presentation of results from BLISS-52 was recently shared at the 73rd Annual Scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. Both trials succeeded in meeting their primary endpoints, which should make BENLYSTA eligible for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

2 Nov 2009

Autoimmune Disease News and Research

Further Reading

LFAGW celebrates 35th anniversary

Seattle Genetics and Agensys expand ADC collaboration

Research suggests common oral bacterium may exacerbate autoimmune disease

Top-line data from Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' LX1031 Phase 2 study for IBS to be presented

Discovery holds promise in fighting cancer, AIDS and autoimmune disorders

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Final results from ImmuPharma's Phase IIb trial of LUPUZOR

ScienceWorksForUS launched by the representatives of public and private research universities

Phase II clinical study to evaluate Nanocort commenced

Seattle Genetics commences phase I clinical trial of SGN-75 ADC for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Research team identifies five new gene regions that raise the risk of childhood-onset IBD

Positive results from Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' LX1031 Phase 2 study for IBS

arGentis Pharmaceuticals to commence human clinical evaluation of ARG301 oral altered peptide ligand

Rituximab drug potentially effective for treating Graves' eye disease, shows study

National Institutes of Health grants $6-million for brain disease research

Study on asbestos-related diseases in Libby launched

SQI Diagnostics' SQiDworks automated platform and IgXPLEX RA assay receive FDA marketing clearance

Avila Therapeutics presents preclinical study data of its AVL-181 HCV protease inhibitor

LRI and lupus organizations congratulate HGS and GlaxoSmithKline for achieving historical landmark

HGS and GSK announce results from phase III clinical trials of BENLYSTA

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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