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 key mechanism in development of Alzheimer's

New research by scientists at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM) demonstrates how dying or damaged brain cells release debris into the bloodstream and give rise to specific autoantibodies that appear to be reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

23 May 2012

Data from Alvine’s ALV003 Phase 2A trial on celiac disease presented at DDW 2012

Alvine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the presentation of data from a Phase 2A trial of its lead compound, ALV003, at the 2012 Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) meeting held in San Diego, California. The study results met the primary endpoint of demonstrating that oral ALV003, administered in the context of a gluten free diet (GFD), can diminish gluten-induced intestinal mucosal injury in well-controlled celiac disease patients. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2B trial later this year.

23 May 2012

Study uncovers mechanism by which Notch pathway could contribute to RA

A new study led by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery identifies the mechanism by which a cell signaling pathway contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, the study provides evidence that drugs under development for diseases such as cancer could potentially be used to treat RA.

21 May 2012

AACN, GE Healthcare to honor DAISY Foundation with Pioneering Spirit Award

The DAISY Foundation will receive the AACN-GE Healthcare Pioneering Spirit Award to honor its efforts to provide meaningful recognition to nurses as "unsung heroes" deserving of society's profound respect and recognition for their education, training, brainpower, skill and compassion.

18 May 2012

High-throughput sequencing can detect early signs of leukemia relapse

A study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that a next-generation, high-speed DNA-decoding technology called high-throughput sequencing can detect the earliest signs of potential relapse in nearly twice the number of leukemia patients as compared to flow cytometry, the current gold standard for detecting minimal residual disease.

17 May 2012

National Psoriasis Foundation awards more than $2 million for research

Twenty-six scientists have received a total of $2.06 million in grants from the National Psoriasis Foundation to study psoriasis—the most common autoimmune disease in the country, affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans—and psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory joint and tendon disease.

16 May 2012

African-Americans with scleroderma have more antibodies linked to severe complications

A new analysis finds that compared to Caucasians, African-Americans with systemic scleroderma have more antibodies in the blood that are linked to severe complications and an increased likelihood of death. They say this finding, published today in Arthritis & Rheumatism, suggests physicians can use these disease markers to screen and treat scleroderma patients proactively.

11 May 2012

African Americans have more severe complications from scleroderma

African Americans have more severe complications from systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, than Caucasians. Findings published today in, Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), show that compared with Caucasians, African-American patients were more likely to have antibodies that increased frequency and severity of pulmonary fibrosis, which is associated with decreased survival.

10 May 2012

FDA AAC recommends approval of Pfizer’s tofacitinib for RA

Pfizer Inc. announced today that the Arthritis Advisory Committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted 8-2 to recommend approval of the investigational agent tofacitinib for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.

10 May 2012

AARDA's Autoimmune Walk campaign surpasses first $20,000 fundraising milestone

Just a month after announcing its first-ever national "Autoimmune Walk: Linking Together for a Cure" campaign, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) announced today that it has surpassed its first $20,000 fundraising milestone.

9 May 2012

New clue to predicting pre-eclampsia, the most common and severe pregnancy-related disease

An indication of whether a mother will develop pre-eclampsia, the most common and severe pregnancy-related disease, has been identified by a University of Sydney study.

9 May 2012

Metformin blocks uveitis in laboratory rats

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have discovered that a drug already prescribed to millions of people with diabetes could also have another important use: treating one of the world's leading causes of blindness.

8 May 2012

Scientists make important discovery about internal programming of B cells

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have made an important discovery about the internal programming of B cells, the immune cells that make antibodies against infections. The finding opens the way for the development of vaccines that can work more efficiently and hints at therapies for conditions in which B cells cause harm—such as the autoimmune disease lupus erythymatosus, severe allergies, and B-cell lymphomas.

8 May 2012

Data from Idera IMO-8400 preclinical studies for SLE and psoriasis presented at AAI meeting

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced data from preclinical studies of IMO-8400, demonstrating a novel mechanism of action that may be applicable to the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis. IMO-8400 is an inhibitor of specific Toll-like receptors (TLRs).

7 May 2012

Eye color linked to high-risk for skin conditions

Eye color may be an indicator of whether a person is high-risk for certain serious skin conditions. A study, led by the University of Colorado School of Medicine, shows people with blue eyes are less likely to have vitiligo.

7 May 2012

Accentia, Johns Hopkins co-host meeting with prospective clinical trial investigators at AAN meeting

Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Company and leading physicians from Johns Hopkins University co-hosted a meeting with prospective clinical trial investigators at the recent American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

7 May 2012

AHA recognizes HHS’ Charla de Lupus program with HAVE

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has recognized Hospital for Special Surgery's Charla de Lupus (Lupus Chat) program with its Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence.

5 May 2012

LRI applauds ACR colleagues for new lupus nephritis guidelines

The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) applauds our colleagues at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for issuing new guidelines to help healthcare professionals screen, diagnose and treat lupus nephritis, a type of kidney disease associated with lupus. Available on the ACR website, the new guidelines are just published in the April 2012 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

5 May 2012

Idera to present data from IMO-8400 preclinical studies on SLE, psoriasis at AAI meeting

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it will be presenting data from preclinical studies of its Toll-like receptor (TLR) inhibitor, IMO-8400, in models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis, which suggest that IMO-8400 may be useful for the treatment of both indications.

2 May 2012

Oral bacteria may cause problems in arthritis patients

The culprit behind a failed hip or knee replacements might be found in the mouth. DNA testing of bacteria from the fluid that lubricates hip and knee joints had bacteria with the same DNA as the plaque from patients with gum disease and in need of a joint replacement.

19 Apr 2012