Arthritis News and Research

Latest Arthritis News and Research

FDA accepts Pfizer's tofacitinib NDA for review

Pfizer Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the New Drug Application (NDA) for tofacitinib (development code CP-690,550), an investigational novel, oral JAK inhibitor being studied for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.

21 Dec 2011

Scientists discover missing link between body's biological clock and sugar metabolism system

Scientists have discovered a missing link between the body's biological clock and sugar metabolism system, a finding that may help avoid the serious side effects of drugs used for treating asthma, allergies and arthritis.

20 Dec 2011

Exactech commences clinical trial to evaluate new cartilage repair technology

Exactech, Inc., a developer and producer of bone and joint restoration products for hip, knee, shoulder, spine and biologic materials announced today it has initiated a prospective, randomized, multi-center, clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new cartilage repair technology.

19 Dec 2011

Study finds knee pain patterns vary among women over a 12-year period

New research shows 63% of women age 50 and older reported persistent, incident, or intermittent knee pain during a 12-year study period. Predictors for persistent pain included higher body mass index (BMI), previous knee injury, and radiographic osteoarthritis.

19 Dec 2011

Enrollment complete in ThromboGenics, BioInvent TB-402 Phase IIb trial on VTE

ThromboGenics NV and co-development partner BioInvent International announce today that they have completed the enrolment of a 632-patient Phase IIb trial with their novel long-acting anticoagulant TB-402 for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total hip surgery. The trial has recruited patients from 36 centers across Europe.

17 Dec 2011

FDA accepts Vertex KALYDECO NDA for six-month Priority Review

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for KALYDECOTM (ivacaftor) and granted the company's request for six-month Priority Review.

16 Dec 2011

OA patients benefit from walking skills training following total hip arthroplasty

Researchers in Norway report that patients who receive walking skills training following total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis show improved physical function. The physical therapy program displayed a positive effect on walking distance and stair climbing which continued 12 months following hip replacement surgery.

15 Dec 2011

HDE and DEP exposure can lead to development of asthma

A study conducted by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) has found that diesel exhaust particulates (DEP) and house dust extract (HDE) causes pulmonary inflammation that aggravates asthma.

15 Dec 2011

Positive data from Nektar's NKTR-181 Phase 1 clinical study for chronic pain

Nektar Therapeutics today announced positive data from a Phase 1 clinical study of NKTR-181 evaluating multiple ascending oral doses of NKTR-181 over an 8-day treatment period in healthy subjects.

14 Dec 2011

Scientists discover how intestinal tract influences B cells to prevent infection

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found an explanation for how the intestinal tract influences a key component of the immune system to prevent infection, offering a potential clue to the cause of autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

13 Dec 2011

Reata, Abbott partner to develop and commercialize AIMs for chronic diseases

Abbott and Reata Pharmaceuticals today announced that they have entered into a worldwide collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize Reata's portfolio of second-generation oral antioxidant inflammation modulators.

12 Dec 2011

Alios BioPharma, Vertex initiate ALS-2200 and ALS-2158 clinical study in HCV

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Alios BioPharma, Inc. today announced the initiation of two clinical studies for the nucleotide analogues ALS-2200 and ALS-2158, which are inhibitors of the hepatitis C NS5B polymerase.

12 Dec 2011

Ovary removal in younger women may lead to low-bone mineral density, arthritis

Having both ovaries removed before age 45 is strongly associated with low-bone mineral density and arthritis in later years, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins oncologists and epidemiologists. The analysis covered several thousand women who took part in a U.S. government-sponsored, multiyear national health study, and excluded women whose ovaries were removed due to cancer.

9 Dec 2011

Researchers discover potential target for cherubism

Cancer researchers studying genetic mutations that cause leukemia have discovered a connection to the rare disease cherubism, an inherited facial bone disorder in children.

9 Dec 2011

Study: Tart cherry juice improves overall sleep efficiency

Americans seeking a better night's sleep may need to look no further than tart cherry juice, according to a new study in the European Journal of Nutrition. An international team of researchers found that when adults had two daily glasses of tart cherry juice, they slept 39 minutes longer, on average, and had up to 6 percent increase in overall sleep efficiency (significantly less non-sleep time in bed), compared to when they drank a non-cherry, fruit cocktail.

9 Dec 2011

ChemoCentryx commences CCX140 Phase II trial in diabetic nephropathy

ChemoCentryx, Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial for CCX140, an orally-administered small molecule for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease.

9 Dec 2011

Ampio awarded composition of matter patent for Ampion in Europe

Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company that discovers and develops new uses for previously approved drugs and new molecular entities, today announced receipt of notification of the granting of a European patent with broad claims directed to compositions containing DA-DKP, a cyclic dipeptide diketopiperazine which is the active ingredient of Ampion™.

7 Dec 2011

FDA modifies requirements of Amgen's Nplate REMS Program

Amgen today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has modified the requirements of the Nplate (romiplostim) Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program.

7 Dec 2011

PDUFA goal date of NDA for Protalix's taliglucerase alfa extended

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., announced today that it received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the FDA has extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of the New Drug Application (NDA) for taliglucerase alfa to May 1, 2012, a three-month extension from the previous PDUFA date of February 1, 2012.

6 Dec 2011

Tips to keep kids safe during cold-weather

Cold winds, icy rain and, in some places, snow—Old Man Winter has arrived. His entry reminds us to get our furnaces checked and winterize our car, but what about the kids? "Children are even more vulnerable than adults to cold-weather and winter-related injuries," said Dr. Karen Judy, pediatrician at Loyola University Health System and professor of pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

6 Dec 2011