Rheumatology News and Research

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Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists mainly deal with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and allied conditions of connective tissues.

Medicare reimbursement for DXA tests restored

Passage of health care reform legislation today in the U.S. Senate will help provide older Americans with easier access to quality osteoporosis diagnosis, prevention and treatment services. Included in the Senate health reform bill is a provision restoring Medicare reimbursement for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the leading diagnostic tool for the early detection and management of osteoporosis.

27 Dec 2009

UCB's Cimzia gains market share of Centocor's Simponi

BioTrends Research Group, Inc. announces the release of the final wave of LaunchTrends®: Simponi and Cimzia report. The survey was completed by U.S. Rheumatologists.

24 Dec 2009

Study reveals genomic switches separate autoimmune disorders in different clusters

Genomic switches can predispose an individual to one set of autoimmune disorders but protect the same person against another set of them, scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have found.

24 Dec 2009

Achievements in lupus research, education and advocacy cause for celebration and hope

The year 2009 will be remembered as a year of many firsts for lupus, including the first successful phase III clinical trial of a potential new treatment for lupus, the launch of the first-ever Ad Council public awareness campaign for lupus, and the first comprehensive report on the barriers to lupus drug development. And it appears there are no signs of any slowing of momentum as we enter the New Year.

23 Dec 2009

Emisphere's oral salmon calcitonin product addresses persistent musculoskeletal pain

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. today announced a meta-analysis published in the December 2009 edition of Rheumatology Reports examining independent evidence of the analgesic action of the hormone calcitonin. This publication restates the potential of calcitonin in filling a significant unmet need for alternative treatments for persistent musculoskeletal pain.

22 Dec 2009

2010 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research open for nomination

The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research has opened the 2010 call for nominations. The $100,000 Award recognizes individuals whose efforts have made significant transformational contributions towards the improvement of human health. Nomination forms are available at pauljanssenaward.com and will be accepted until February 15, 2010.

18 Dec 2009

Jazz Pharmaceuticals announces submission of JZP-6 NDA for treatment of fibromyalgia

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for JZP-6 (sodium oxybate oral solution) for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

15 Dec 2009

Senator Arlen Specter's amendment to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act applauded

More than twenty of our nation's premiere physician organizations applaud Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) for introducing an amendment to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590).

15 Dec 2009

UCB offers tips for managing rheumatoid arthritis during festive season

A third of women living with rheumatoid arthritis say their disease impacts their enjoyment of the festive season - Women living with rheumatoid arthritis find shopping for gifts, preparing holiday food, writing cards and wrapping presents most difficult to do - Nearly two thirds of women living with rheumatoid arthritis experience pain daily

14 Dec 2009

Senator Arlen Specter proposes new amendment to current healthcare reform bill

Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) today proposed a new amendment to the current healthcare reform bill which will preserve access to care for millions of Medicare patients seen by a medical specialist.

14 Dec 2009

Genentech and Biogen Idec report positive outcome from ocrelizumab-MTX combination study in RA

Genentech, Inc. a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, and Biogen Idec announced today a Phase III study (STAGE) of the investigational humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab given in combination with methotrexate (MTX) met its primary endpoint of improving signs and symptoms (as measured by American College of Rheumatology or ACR20 response) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had an inadequate response to MTX at both 24 and 48 weeks.

11 Dec 2009

Neovacs announces initiation of a Phase IIa clinical study of TNFα Kinoid immunotherapy

Neovacs, a biotechnology company developing proprietary immunotherapies for autoimmune and chronic diseases, today announced the initiation of a Phase IIa clinical study of its TNFα Kinoid immunotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients who have ceased to respond to an anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody and who test positive for anti-drug antibodies (ADAs).

8 Dec 2009

Synexus to complete acquisition of ClinPharm by January 2010

Synexus has agreed to acquire Leipzig based ClinPharm and will complete the acquisition in January 2010. This deal will increase the number of Synexus’ Dedicated Research Centres to 26 in nine countries, thus significantly strengthening its European reach and further reinforcing its position as the global leader.

From AES - Accelerated Enrollment Solutions 7 Dec 2009

Study on the genetics of osteoarthritis

Interleukin Genetics, Inc. and NYU Langone Medical Center announced findings from a study performed in collaboration with Duke University on the genetics of osteoarthritis have been published this week in the "Online First" version of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases and is available at http://ard.bmj.com/cgi/rapidpdf/ard.2009.113043v1.pdf.

2 Dec 2009

Prevalence of osteoarthritis continues to rise; OA expenses nearly 100% higher for women than men

Osteoarthritis (OA), a highly prevalent disease, raised aggregate annual medical care expenditures in the U.S. by $185.5 billion according to researchers from Stony Brook University. Insurers footed $149.4 billion of the total medical spend and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures were $36.1 billion (2007 dollars). Results of the cost analysis study are published in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

30 Nov 2009

Increasing patient responsibility in medical decisions may decrease their willingness to accept risky treatment options

A recent study suggests that increasing patient responsibility for making medical decisions may decrease their willingness to accept risky treatment options. Details of this proof-of-concept study appear in the December issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

30 Nov 2009

Rural beneficiaries more likely to undergo joint replacement surgeries than urban recipients

Southern Illinois University researchers determined Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas were 27% more likely than urban recipients to have total knee or hip replacement surgeries.

30 Nov 2009

Hospital germ check strategies adaptable for homes

With cold and flu season upon us, it's more important than ever to employ good practices to control the spread of infections and avoid illness.

26 Nov 2009

Canadian Arthritis Network to host 2009 Annual Scientific Conference in Vancouver

People with arthritis and leading Canadian and international researchers will share the stage under the theme "Decoding Arthritis - A Joint Effort" when the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN) hosts its 2009 Annual Scientific Conference beginning tonight, in Vancouver, BC.

19 Nov 2009

FDA approves Qutenza, a pain relief product for patients who suffer from PHN

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the approval of Qutenza (capsaicin) 8% patch, a medicated skin patch that relieves the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a serious complication that can occur after a bout with shingles.

18 Nov 2009

Rheumatology News and Research

Further Reading

Medicare reimbursement for DXA tests restored

UCB's Cimzia gains market share of Centocor's Simponi

Study reveals genomic switches separate autoimmune disorders in different clusters

Achievements in lupus research, education and advocacy cause for celebration and hope

Emisphere's oral salmon calcitonin product addresses persistent musculoskeletal pain

2010 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research open for nomination

Jazz Pharmaceuticals announces submission of JZP-6 NDA for treatment of fibromyalgia

Senator Arlen Specter's amendment to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act applauded

UCB offers tips for managing rheumatoid arthritis during festive season

Senator Arlen Specter proposes new amendment to current healthcare reform bill

Genentech and Biogen Idec report positive outcome from ocrelizumab-MTX combination study in RA

Neovacs announces initiation of a Phase IIa clinical study of TNFα Kinoid immunotherapy

Synexus to complete acquisition of ClinPharm by January 2010

Study on the genetics of osteoarthritis

Prevalence of osteoarthritis continues to rise; OA expenses nearly 100% higher for women than men

Increasing patient responsibility in medical decisions may decrease their willingness to accept risky treatment options

Rural beneficiaries more likely to undergo joint replacement surgeries than urban recipients

Hospital germ check strategies adaptable for homes

Canadian Arthritis Network to host 2009 Annual Scientific Conference in Vancouver

FDA approves Qutenza, a pain relief product for patients who suffer from PHN

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

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