Systemic Lupus Erythematosus News and Research

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the form of the disease that most people are referring to when they say "lupus." The word "systemic" means the disease can affect many parts of the body. The symptoms of SLE may be mild or serious. Although SLE usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life as well.

ChemoCentryx announces the initiation of Phase I clinical trial of CCX168

ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of CCX168, an orally-administered small molecule designed to treat autoimmune diseases.

28 Jan 2010

U.S. study finds improved mortality outcomes for children with rheumatic diseases

A recent study by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic found that the overall mortality rate in the U.S. for all pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases was not worse than the age and sex-adjusted population.

28 Jan 2010

New report describes state of lupus research, impact of disease and barriers to care

A major report on lupus from the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the U.S. Congress this week reviews the state of the disease and documents the need for a comprehensive national provider health education program to help eliminate the barriers of racial disparities in the early medical diagnosis and treatment of lupus.

23 Jan 2010

Pfizer commences SBI-087 Phase 2 clinical trial for RA

Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its collaboration partner, Pfizer, has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial of SBI-087 (PF-05230895) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). SBI-087 is a next-generation, humanized Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical (SMIP(TM)) protein therapeutic directed against the CD20 antigen. SBI-087 is also being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials for RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

12 Jan 2010

Jiangsu Government grants $1.8M for research and development of hUC-MSC technologies

The Jiangsu Government's Science and Technology Department has announced a $1.8 million grant - the Jiangsu Technological Achievements Transformational Grant - to support the research and development of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) technologies. The grant recipient and administrator, Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (http://www.beikebiotech.com ), is working with Jiangsu University and Nanjing University's Drum Tower Hospital to fulfill the grant's requirements.

9 Jan 2010

Scientists and clinicians address diagnosis and treatment for autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases are a major health issue. The National Institutes of Health reports that up to 23.5 million Americans are afflicted. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association reports the number is closer to 50 million. Scientists and clinicians at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston can address the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, as well as the latest advances in research.

8 Jan 2010

Scientists identify role of epigenetic changes in SLE

Identical twins look the same and are nearly genetically identical, but environmental factors and the resulting cellular changes could cause disease in one sibling and not the other.

22 Dec 2009

Human Genome Sciences closes public offering of new issued shares

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced the closing of its public offering of 17,825,000 newly issued shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $26.75 per share, which includes 2,325,000 shares sold upon exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares. The net proceeds to the Company from the offering are approximately $456.3 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses.

9 Dec 2009

LRI awards $3.6 million grants to drive innovative science in lupus and related diseases

The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) today named 12 new grant recipients for 2009. The awards, totaling $3.6 million, recognize innovative work across a broad spectrum of lupus research. All were selected for their creativity, novelty, and potential to drive scientific discovery to ultimately prevent, treat, and cure the complex disease of systemic lupus.

24 Nov 2009

Final results from ImmuPharma's Phase IIb trial of LUPUZOR

ImmuPharma PLC the specialist discovery and development pharmaceutical company is pleased to announce today the final results from a Phase IIb trial of LUPUZOR™ in active patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Lupuzor™ administered at 200 mcg once-a-month for 3 months plus standard of care achieved a clinically significant improvement in patient response rate as measured by the combined score compared to placebo plus standard of care.

19 Nov 2009

FDA issues a Complete Response Letter for Human Genome Sciences' raxibacumab BLA

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced that it has received a Complete Response Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relating to the Company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) requesting the approval of raxibacumab for use in the treatment of inhalational anthrax. The FDA issues Complete Response Letters to request additional information needed to complete the review of a BLA.

16 Nov 2009

Smokers with systemic lupus erythematosus at greater risk of skin damage and rashes

As if there weren't enough reasons to stop smoking, a team of researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have just found another. A study led by Dr. Christian A Pineau, Co-Director of the Lupus and Vasculitis clinic at the MUHC, has clearly linked skin damage and rashes to smoking in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.

3 Nov 2009

BENLYSTA meets primary endpoint in BLISS-76 trial for systemic lupus erythematosus

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) today announced that BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) met the primary endpoint in BLISS-76, the second of two pivotal Phase 3 trials in seropositive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). BLISS-76 study results through 52 weeks showed that belimumab 10 mg/kg plus standard of care achieved a statistically significant improvement in patient response rate as measured by the SLE Responder Index at Week 52, compared with placebo plus standard of care.

2 Nov 2009

Lupus patients rarely develop kidney disorders after a kidney transplant

Individuals with a history of lupus who receive a kidney transplant rarely develop the serious inflammatory condition lupus nephritis in their new organ, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA.

2 Nov 2009

Human Genome Sciences declares financial results for third quarter 2009; reports increased revenue growth

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, and provided highlights of recent key developments.

30 Oct 2009

Steroid-induced osteoporosis can now be treated with Teriparatide

A recent study determined glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (OP) is now treatable with Teriparatide, a synthetic form of the human parathyroid hormone. Researchers found patients with glucocorticoid-induced OP who were treated with teriparatide for 36 months had a greater increase in bone mineral density (BMD) and fewer new vertebral fractures than those treated with alendronate.

29 Oct 2009

Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline to present Phase 3 trial results of BENLYSTA

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) today announced the full presentation of results from BLISS-52, the first of two pivotal Phase 3 trials of BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) in seropositive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

20 Oct 2009

Human Genome Sciences completes Phase 3 development program, earns $75 million from Novartis

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced that it has earned a $75 million milestone payment from Novartis, related to successful completion of the Phase 3 development program and the decision to submit applications seeking regulatory approval to market ZALBIN™ (albinterferon alfa-2b) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

19 Oct 2009

Preclinical data of carfilzomib and PR-957 inhibitors to be presented at 2009 ACR/ARHP meeting

Proteolix, Inc. today announced that data from preclinical studies of carfilzomib and PR-957 will be presented at the 2009 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting on October 16 - 21 in Philadelphia, PA.