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.

Alcon to acquire ESBATech AG

Alcon (NYSE:ACL) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ESBATech AG, a Swiss biotechnology company. Alcon will pay ESBATech shareholders $150 million in cash at closing, plus contingent payments of up to $439 million based upon the achievement of future research and development milestones that would be expected to create value for Alcon.

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

Miracles of the immune system discussed at the 2nd European Congress of Immunology

"I think it will not surprise you if I say that the immune system is one of our most important organ systems. Its relevance is obvious if only for the fact that it has been reinvented several times throughout the evolution of life," says Professor Andreas Radbruch, President of the German Society of Immunology and Director of the Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin. He lectured about the miracle of our immune system at the Opening Press Conference of the 2nd European Congress of Immunology.

10 Sep 2009

KRYSTEXXA development and treatment failure gout to be presented

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that five abstracts relating to KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase) development and treatment failure gout will be presented at the 2009 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting taking place in Philadelphia from October 16-21, 2009.

8 Sep 2009

Regurin XL capsule for the treatment of OAB launched in UK

Regurin(R) XL (trospium chloride), a once-daily, prolonged-release capsule to treat patients with overactive bladder (OAB) has been launched in the UK. Regurin(R) XL provides rapid, significant and consistent improvements in the symptoms of OAB1 and has a reduced potential for central nervous system (CNS) side effects(2-7).

7 Sep 2009

Novel SLE Responder Index as the primary endpoint in two Phase 3 clinical trials

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced publication by the journal Arthritis Care & Research of an article describing the development and use of a novel evidence-based systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index selected as the primary endpoint of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of BENLYSTA (belimumab) in serologically active patients with SLE.

4 Sep 2009

Takeda receives FDA response regarding NDA for fixed-dose combination of alogliptin and ACTOS

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. (U.S.), received on September 2 (U.S. TIME), a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for the fixed-dose combination (FDC) of alogliptin and ACTOS(R) (pioglitazone HCl).

4 Sep 2009

CIGNA partners with MCNT to launch a medical home type program in Texas

CIGNA (NYSE:CI) and Medical Clinic of North Texas (MCNT) are preparing to launch a pilot program that incorporates components of the medical home model based on a comprehensive, accountable and collaborative approach they believe will lead to improved patient access, better continuity and coordination of care, improved quality of care for patients, and lower medical costs.

2 Sep 2009

Gene causing periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis identified

Investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery, collaborating with researchers from other institutions, have contributed to the discovery that a gene called interferon regulator factor-8 (IRF-8) is involved in the development of diseases such as periodontitis (gum disease), rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The study, which will be published online August 30, ahead of print, in the journal Nature Medicine, could lead to new treatments in the future.

2 Sep 2009

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis affected patients more prone to cardiovascular diseases

Patients suffering from two serious autoimmune disorders which cause muscular inflammation are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, says a group of Montreal researchers. Dr. Christian A. Pineau and his team at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have linked muscular inflammation to increased cardiovascular risk for the first time.

2 Sep 2009

Study reveals that downregulation of IRF-8 gene causes gum diseases, arthritis and osteoporosis

31 Aug 2009

U.S. FDA agrees to the study design for cardiovascular outcomes trial of alogliptin

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") and Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., a wholly owned United States (U.S.) subsidiary, today jointly announced that the latter has received notification that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to the study design for a cardiovascular (CV) outcomes trial titled EXAMINE (EXamination of CArdiovascular OutcoMes: AlogliptIN vs. Standard of CarE in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Acute Coronary Syndrome) for alogliptin, a selective dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

28 Aug 2009

Clinical data added to ORENCIA labeling help treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that clinical data added to the labeling for ORENCIA (abatacept) support use of ORENCIA for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis of less than or equal to two years duration.

27 Aug 2009

Significant drop in prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis between 2000 and 2001

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health examined records of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from the national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system to determine the prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) in this population. The study found a downward trend in the number of RA patients who go on to develop RV, with a significant drop of 53% among inpatients and 31% among outpatients between 2000 and 2001.

27 Aug 2009

Collagen deficiency in mice causes premature development of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease

Osteoarthritis (OA) and degenerative disc disease (DDD) are common, chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Both diseases cause joint pain, loss of function, and decreased quality of life for the more than 27 million OA and 59 million DDD suffers in the US. According to a 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, arthritis such as OA costs the U.S. economy nearly $128 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses including lost wages and productivity.

27 Aug 2009

Takeda Canada reacquires commercial rights for an oral type 2 diabetic treatment drug

Takeda Canada, Inc. announced that it has reacquired the Canadian commercial rights to ACTOS(R) (pioglitazone HCl), an oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, from Eli Lilly Canada Inc. Takeda, the discoverer of ACTOS, licensed the drug to Lilly as part of a worldwide agreement in 1999.

21 Aug 2009

Marijuana/Cannabis may protect against osteoporosis

Scientists investigating the effects of cannabis on bone health have found that its impact varies dramatically with age.

13 Aug 2009

Biospecifics Technologies reports Q2 2009 financials

BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: BSTC), a biopharmaceutical company developing first in class collagenase-based products, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

12 Aug 2009

Traditional Chinese acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain

Acupuncture has been used in East-Asian medicine for thousands of years to treat pain, possibly by activating the body's natural painkillers. But how it works at the cellular level is largely unknown.

10 Aug 2009

Association of Specialty Professors announces the 2009 T. Franklin Williams scholars

The Association of Specialty Professors (ASP) is pleased to announce the eighth class of T. Franklin Williams Scholars. These scholars are recipients of two- to four-year career development awards funded by a generous grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies (USA) Inc. and the John A. Hartford Foundation, and co-sponsored by 12 internal medicine specialty societies.

10 Aug 2009

Rheumatology News and Research

Further Reading

Alcon to acquire ESBATech AG

Therapeutic principles of monoclonal antibodies

Miracles of the immune system discussed at the 2nd European Congress of Immunology

KRYSTEXXA development and treatment failure gout to be presented

Regurin XL capsule for the treatment of OAB launched in UK

Novel SLE Responder Index as the primary endpoint in two Phase 3 clinical trials

Takeda receives FDA response regarding NDA for fixed-dose combination of alogliptin and ACTOS

CIGNA partners with MCNT to launch a medical home type program in Texas

Gene causing periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis identified

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis affected patients more prone to cardiovascular diseases

Study reveals that downregulation of IRF-8 gene causes gum diseases, arthritis and osteoporosis

U.S. FDA agrees to the study design for cardiovascular outcomes trial of alogliptin

Clinical data added to ORENCIA labeling help treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Significant drop in prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis between 2000 and 2001

Collagen deficiency in mice causes premature development of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease

Takeda Canada reacquires commercial rights for an oral type 2 diabetic treatment drug

Marijuana/Cannabis may protect against osteoporosis

Biospecifics Technologies reports Q2 2009 financials

Traditional Chinese acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain

Association of Specialty Professors announces the 2009 T. Franklin Williams scholars

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 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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