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Positive Phase I results from ChemoCentryx CCX354 study for RA presented at EULAR

ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced that it reported positive Phase I results for its novel drug candidate CCX354 at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR). CCX354 is the Company's orally-active small molecule drug candidate designed to specifically target the CCR1 chemokine receptor for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

17 Jun 2010

Researchers assess effect of MDs on cardiac and endothelial cell proliferation, survival

A research team from McGill University (Canada) report a beneficial effect on cardiac function in mouse models when implanted monocytes - a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system - helped preserve cardiac function following a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

17 Jun 2010

Data shows VB-201 controls inflammatory responses associated with autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis

VBL Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to the development of novel treatments for immune-inflammatory diseases and cancer, today announced preclinical data demonstrating that VB-201 regulates inflammatory pathways, suggesting that it may effectively control inflammatory responses associated with autoimmune diseases and atherosclerosis.

7 Jun 2010

Preclinical data of dual TLR7 and TLR8 agonist in cancer published

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the publication of data from studies of a dual agonist of Toll-like Receptor 7 and TLR8 in preclinical models of cancer. The Company created this first-in-class RNA-based dual agonist of TLR7 and TLR8 through its chemistry-based approach to identifying novel TLR-targeted drug candidates.

4 Jun 2010

Platelets play important role in cerebral malaria: Research

Scientists are making strides against cerebral malaria, a fatal form of malaria in children that can ravage the brain and is extremely difficult to treat. New research points to platelets - known for their role in blood clotting - as playing an important role in the disease, stimulating the immune system and turning on molecules that increase inflammation. The inflammation leads to the obstruction of blood vessels in the brain, causing brain damage similar to that seen with a stroke.

2 Jun 2010

New study provides cause-and-effect link between immune system cells and mental illness

A Nobel Prize-winning University of Utah geneticist discovered that bone marrow transplants cure mutant mice who pull out their hair compulsively. The study provides the first cause-and-effect link between immune system cells and mental illness, and points toward eventual new psychiatric treatments.

28 May 2010

Dietary changes may help alleviate celiac disease, says study

New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that striking a balance of intestinal microbiota could play a role in early stages of celiac disease-related immune responses

30 Apr 2010

Controlling actions of FSH may help treat osteoporosis in menopausal women

Diminished bone density is common among menopausal women and raises their risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures and subsequent complications. Research has traditionally focused on therapies that seek to maintain the level of estrogen in the body. This hormone seems to sustain bone health, but it drops to an extremely low level during and after menopause.

26 Apr 2010

Modest weight reduction reverses immune cell damage in obese people with diabetes

Australian scientists have shown for the first time that even modest weight loss reverses many of the damaging changes often seen in the immune cells of obese people, particularly those with Type 2 diabetes.

21 Apr 2010

Severe and necrotizing AP characterized by depletion of circulating lymphocytes

Mortality of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) approaches 30%-40%. An imbalance between the early systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and the later compensatory counter-inflammatory response, and development of multiple organ failure (MOF) are considered to be the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in SAP. Excessive leukocyte activation (including neutrophils and monocyte-macrophage lineage) with cytokinemia play a critical role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and even more so, of the subsequent inflammatory response.

20 Apr 2010

Even modest weight loss brings many health benefits

There have been repeated warnings related to the growing obese and diabetes related population in Australia. Studies have shown that nearly 50% Australians are either obese or overweight and thus suffer from its ill effects like heart disease, high cholesterol and type II diabetes.

20 Apr 2010

New studies supporting Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' CNS portfolio to be presented at AAN 2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced that several new studies supporting the company's innovative central nervous system portfolio will be presented at the 62nd American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Toronto, April 10-17, 2010.

8 Apr 2010

PS-targeting antibodies can block HIV virus from entering into certain blood cells

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the publication of data showing phosphatidylserine -targeting antibodies can block one of the key ways the AIDS virus gains entry into certain blood cells. The data were generated by scientists at Duke University as part of their ongoing AIDS vaccine research.

6 Apr 2010

Peregrine's PS-targeting antibodies block HIV from entry into blood cells

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the publication of data showing phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting antibodies can block one of the key ways the AIDS virus gains entry into certain blood cells. The data were generated by scientists at Duke University as part of their ongoing AIDS vaccine research. The article titled "Anti-Phospholipid Human Monoclonal Antibodies Inhibit CCR5-Tropic HIV-1 and Induces β-Chemokines" is available online today and will be published in the April 12, 2010 edition of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

5 Apr 2010

ChemoCentryx undertakes Phase II clinical trial of CCX140

ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced that it has undertaken a Phase II clinical trial of CCX140, a novel, orally-available small molecule compound designed to specifically target the chemokine receptor known as CCR2.

22 Mar 2010

Promedior raises $12M in Series C financing

Promedior, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, today announced that it has raised $12 million in a Series C financing round. Forbion Capital Partners led the round, with participation from existing investors Morgenthaler Ventures, HealthCare Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners, and Easton Capital. The Series C financing brings the total capital raised by Promedior over the past year to $27 million.

16 Mar 2010

Investigators develop new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data

Investigators have developed a new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data derived from complex mixtures of immune cells. This approach, when combined with well-established techniques, readily identifies changes in small samples of human whole blood, and has the potential to distinguish between health and disease states.

11 Mar 2010

Scientists devise software algorithm to detect medically useful information from whole-blood samples

Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have devised a software algorithm that could enable a common laboratory device to virtually separate a whole-blood sample into its different cell types and detect medically important gene-activity changes specific to any one of those cell types.

8 Mar 2010

TLR's role in HIV-1 reactivation induced by periodontal pathogens

Today, during the 39th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research, convening at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, lead researcher O.A. Gonzalez (University of Kentucky, Lexington) will present a poster of a study titled "TLR2 and TLR9 Activation by Periodontal Pathogens induce HIV-1 Reactivation."

5 Mar 2010

Argos Therapeutics' AGS-004 immunotherapy for HIV demonstrates clinical and commercial potential

Argos Therapeutics today announced the publication of a manuscript in the February edition of Clinical Immunology, detailing positive immune response, safety and manufacturing data for its AGS-004 immunotherapy for HIV. AGS-004 is a product of the Company’s Arcelis™ technology, and is a personalized, RNA-loaded dendritic cell-based immunotherapy that is perfectly matched to each patient’s unique HIV viral burden. The manuscript details a clinical study in which AGS-004 was evaluated in type-1 HIV-infected adults who were being treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART).