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Histamine can be an important molecule to develop new treatments for MS

If you think histamines are your nemesis during allergy season, here's something that might change your perspective. New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows that histamine could be an important molecule to developing new treatments for multiple sclerosis.

1 Feb 2011

Interferon-alpha associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis in patients with SLE

Researchers in China have demonstrated interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). For the first time, IFN-α priming was shown to promote lipid uptake and foam cell formation—a crucial step in plaque build-up. This activation of the IFN signaling pathway may be linked to the premature atherosclerosis risk in SLE.

27 Jan 2011

Abbott fourth quarter worldwide sales increase 13.4% to nearly $10 billion

Abbott today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010.

27 Jan 2011

Anadys begins dosing in ANA598 Phase IIb study for hepatitis C

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, announced today that dosing has begun in the Phase IIb study of ANA598 in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in hepatitis C patients.

26 Jan 2011

Pill for multiple sclerosis in the pipeline

Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a severely disabling disease that affects 100,000 in the UK. Now a new pill has been developed to treat multiple sclerosis which means there would be no need for injections. European health experts - European Medicines Agency (EMA) have given the new drug Gilenya, the brand name for the drug fingolimod, approval which would grant it EU wide acceptance.

25 Jan 2011

Evaluating patients for genetic variations impacts adherence to antiviral therapy

In two recent studies, researchers have identified two functional variants in the inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) gene that protect patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) against anemia brought on by antiviral treatment. The ability to identify those patients protected against treatment-induced anemia will ensure completion of antiviral therapy and successful elimination of the virus.

25 Jan 2011

ALLOZYNE completes AZ01 Phase IA clinical trial in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

ALLOZYNE, Inc. announced today, the completion of its first Phase IA clinical trial in healthy individuals for AZ01, a PEGylated form of human interferon beta-1b which is being developed for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. The objectives of the Phase IA trial were to assess safety and tolerability profile in addition to defining its pharmacological properties.

11 Jan 2011

Pharmasset, Bristol-Myers Squibb collaborate for proof of concept study on chronic HCV

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pharmasset announced today that the companies have entered into a clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate the utility of BMS-790052, Bristol-Myers Squibb's NS5A replication complex inhibitor, in combination with PSI-7977, Pharmasset's nucleotide polymerase inhibitor, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus.

11 Jan 2011

Pharmasset reports positive data from PSI-7977 and PSI-938 HCV clinical programs

Pharmasset, Inc., announced today positive data from interim analyses of two of its clinical programs: the HCV genotype 2 or 3 (GT2/3) arm of the PSI-7977 Phase 2b trial and the 14 day PSI-938 monotherapy cohort of the dual nucleotide study.

7 Jan 2011

Scientists identify prognostic biomarker to treat patients with HCV

Scientists at Inserm and Institut Pasteur have performed biomarker discovery on patients being treated for chronic hepatitis C infection. Their work, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, demonstrates that the plasma levels of the protein IP-10 predict, prior to treatment initiation, the efficacy of treatment with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin.

6 Jan 2011

ImmunGene, Cephalon Australia collaborate to advance new class of protein therapeutics

ImmunGene, Inc., a privately held drug development company focused on targeted antibody therapeutics, announced today it has entered into a collaboration in which Cephalon Australia (a wholly owned subsidiary of Cephalon, Inc.) will apply ImmunGene's interferon payload technology to up to six of its new drug targets for cancers.

5 Jan 2011

FDA lifts clinical hold on Hemispherx's Alferon LDO Phase II study for influenza prevention

Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted a clinical hold on its Phase II, double-blind, adaptive-design, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study of Alferon® LDO [oral interferon alfa-n3 (human leukocyte derived)] for the prevention and treatment of influenza.

5 Jan 2011

Anadys begins ANA598 Phase IIb study for hepatitis C

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has initiated the planned Phase IIb study of ANA598 in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The protocol for the study has been cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada.

4 Jan 2011

Low levels of microbe-killing molecules improve survival rate of people with CGD

Investigators at the National Institutes of Health have observed that the survival rate of people with a rare immunodeficiency disease called chronic granulomatous disease is greatly improved when even very low levels of microbe-killing molecules are present.

30 Dec 2010

Vertex announces modification of telaprevir and VX-222 combination Phase 2 trial for treatment of HCV

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced a modification of its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating 12-week, response-guided regimens of its lead investigational hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor, telaprevir, in combination with its lead investigational HCV polymerase inhibitor, VX-222.

22 Dec 2010

New CPT code for use with T-SPOT.TB test

Oxford Immunotec, Inc. announces that a new and specific Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code has been established by the American Medical Association for use with the T-SPOT®.TB test. The new Category I code, 86481, is described as "Tuberculosis test, cell mediated immunity antigen response measurement; enumeration of gamma interferon-producing T-cells in cell suspension." This new code will be effective as of January 1, 2011.

21 Dec 2010

Hemispherx to manufacture and supply Alferon N Injection to GP Pharm in Argentina

Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. announced that the Company has entered into an agreement with GP Pharm Latinoamerica, an affiliate company of Spanish GP Pharm SA for the marketing of Alferon N Injection®, the Company's natural interferon injection product which has been FDA approved for a category of sexually transmitted diseases in Argentina with an option for other Latin American countries upon receipt of those respective countries' regulatory approval for any use of the product.

21 Dec 2010

Exciting progress made in MS research during 2010

Exciting advances were made in 2010 in virtually every field of MS research. Progress toward finding new therapies for MS is illustrated by the availability of the first oral disease-modifying therapy for MS. Progress was also made toward finding ways to restore function and improving quality of life and specific MS symptoms through exercise, meditation, rehabilitation and medications, including the first therapy specifically approved to treat a symptom of MS (Ampyra).

20 Dec 2010

Researchers introduce new class of drugs for HCV patients

To improve the care for individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus, a major health problem and a leading cause of chronic liver disease around the world, nearly 200 international hepatitis experts have taken an important step in escalating the introduction of a new class of targeted therapies for HCV – direct-acting antivirals.

15 Dec 2010

Key inhibitory role for IL-1 signaling pathway in human innate immune system

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have described for the first time a key inhibitory role for the IL-1 signaling pathway in the human innate immune system, providing novel insights into human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and potential new treatments.