Inflammatory Disease News and Research

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New data confirm link between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis

Over the last 40 years, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been repeatedly associated with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. During the 2nd European Congress of Immunology ECI 2009 held in Berlin, Francesca Aloisi, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, will present new data that further support the link. In the brain lesions of patients with multiple sclerosis her team found abnormal accumulation of EBV infected B lymphocytes.

14 Sep 2009

Therapeutic principles of monoclonal antibodies

Professor Joachim R. Kalden, Member of the Department for Molecular Immunology, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Zentrum, University Medical School Erlangen-Nuremberg, presents therapeutic principles based on monoclonal antibodies.

10 Sep 2009

Merck's GARDASIL receives approval from FDA Advisory Committee

Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee agreed that efficacy, immunogenicity and safety data from clinical trials in males support the use of GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] in boys and men 9 through 26 years of age for the prevention of genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11.

10 Sep 2009

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to present MS treatment research data

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced that new research data furthering the clinical understanding of its diverse multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment franchise will be presented at the 25th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Düsseldorf, Germany, September 9-12, 2009.

9 Sep 2009

New role discovered for sphingosine-1-phosphate

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers have discovered a new role for the bioactive lipid messenger, sphingosine-1-phosphate, or S1P, that is abundant in our blood - a finding that could lead to a new generation of drugs to fight cancer and inflammatory disease.

5 Sep 2009

Results of Phase 2 rheumatoid arthritis clinical trial announced

Array BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRY) announced its preliminary analysis of results from a study examining ARRY-162, a small molecule MEK inhibitor, in a 12-week Phase 2 clinical trial with 201 patients.

4 Sep 2009

Researchers analyze the role of bioactive lipids in inflammatory diseases

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 46 million Americans have arthritis. Many of these people take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications that block production of certain molecules, known as bioactive lipids, to reduce pain and swelling. Yet, the role of these lipids is not yet understood completely, and medications may have adverse side effects.

2 Sep 2009

Fernando Pisani and 24 hockey players helped raise funds and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

The spirit of giving back was as strong as ever this weekend at the first ever Score for Colitis & Crohn's event, which raised $20,000 for four gastrointestinal and digestive disease patient organizations from across the country. The Score for Colitis & Crohn's initiative, which took place at the West Edmonton Mall's Ice Palace on Saturday, August 29th, featured Fernando Pisani of the Edmonton Oilers and 24 aspiring young hockey enthusiasts who were all on hand to help raise funds and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the latter of which Pisani was diagnosed with in 2007.

31 Aug 2009

Facet Biotech And Trubion to jointly develop and commercialize the TRU-016 SMIP protein therapeutic

Facet Biotech Corporation (Nasdaq: FACT) and Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRBN) today announced an agreement for the joint worldwide development and commercialization of TRU-016, a product candidate in phase 1 clinical development for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

28 Aug 2009

Portola Pharmaceuticals' investigational antiplatelet drug elinogrel featured at the ESC Congress 2009

Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced two oral presentations at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2009 in Barcelona, Spain, that will feature its investigational antiplatelet drug elinogrel, a P2Y12 ADP receptor antagonist that is currently in Phase II clinical development with Novartis, Portola's development and commercialization partner.

25 Aug 2009

Sigma-Aldrich scientists to leverage proprietary gene editing technology to develop genetically-engineered rodent research models

Sigma-Aldrich(R) (Nasdaq: SIAL) announced today that scientists at its new Sigma Advanced Genetic Engineering (SAGE(TM)) Labs in St. Louis will leverage its exclusive CompoZr(TM) Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) gene editing technology (www.compozrzfn.com) to define, develop and offer a new generation of genetically-engineered rodent research models. Such models are commonly used to study disease states in humans and play a key role in the drug discovery process.

24 Aug 2009

Consumer-friendly "finger stick" blood test to detect cardiovascular disease is broadly available now

A new blood test, measuring the level of omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cells, is now broadly available for the first time to the public everywhere as a consumer-friendly, at-home "finger stick" test. While scientists have long known of the benefits of fish and fish oil for overall heart health, over the past decade research has proven that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish dramatically reduce one's risk for cardiovascular disease. Further, recent research indicates that omega-3 levels may be among the best predictors of future coronary heart disease - providing much stronger correlations to the risk of sudden cardiac death than traditional indicators, including HDL and LDL cholesterol.

20 Aug 2009

Amira Pharmaceuticals submits IND for inflammatory and allergic disease treatment candidate

Amira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the submission of an Investigational New Drug application (IND) of AM461, its internally-discovered, oral drug candidate for the treatment and control of inflammatory and allergic disease linked to the arachidonic acid pathway, to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

19 Aug 2009

Array Biopharma reports Q4 and full year 2009 financials

Array reported revenue of $5.5 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, compared to revenue of $6.1 million for the same period in fiscal 2008. Array invested $21.3 million in proprietary research and development for the quarter to advance its seven wholly-owned drugs in clinical development and select discovery programs.

10 Aug 2009

Psoriasis sufferers at risk for other medical conditions

Emerging research reveals that people with psoriasis are at risk for developing other serious medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes and obesity. According to a new study by the National Psoriasis Foundation, of 5,000 people with psoriasis, nearly two-thirds report having at least one other critical health problem.

6 Aug 2009

Research may bring powerful new test for inflammatory lung diseases

Chronic inflammatory lung diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema are a major global health problem, and the fourth leading cause of death and disability in developed countries, with smoking accounting for 90% of the risk for developing them.

3 Aug 2009

Mortality rates higher in hepatitis C virus carriers

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne disease that causes inflammation of the liver and to which there is currently no vaccine available. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3% of the world's population, approximately 170 million people, are infected with HCV and it is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis, end stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver transplantation.

31 Jul 2009

Research shows how resveratrol works as an effective therapy for life-threatening inflammation

Scientists from Scotland and Singapore have unraveled a mystery that has perplexed scientists since red wine was first discovered to have health benefits: how does resveratrol control inflammation?

31 Jul 2009

Protein level may predict severe osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common joint disorder throughout the world and a leading cause of disability, is characterized by pain, impaired joint mobility, reduction of muscular strength and loss of joint function. Unlike most other common diseases, little is known about its origins, and factors predicting a severe disease course have not been identified.

30 Jul 2009

Cause of colic

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston say one organism discovered during their study may unlock the key to what causes colic, inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy baby.

24 Jul 2009