Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Presence and type of cirrhosis complications are strong predictors of mortality: Study

A recent study by Danish researchers discovered patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had a high prevalence of complications at the time of the disease diagnosis.

29 Apr 2010

Talecris Biotherapeutics first-quarter net income increases 35.6% to $45.3 million

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corp. today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010, and filed its first quarter 2010 Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

29 Apr 2010

Lycera to advance discovery, development efforts with second tranche of $11 million Series A financing

Lycera Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering an innovative approach to developing novel oral medicines to treat autoimmune diseases, today announced that the company has made important progress, triggering a second tranche of $11 million in its Series A financing. Proceeds from the second tranche will be used to continue to advance Lycera's discovery and development efforts and further support the growth of the company.

29 Apr 2010

Laughter is truly the best medicine says new research

A new study has shown that laughter may be one of the simplest exercises that has similar effects on the body as pumping iron in the gym. Researchers have named “Laughercise” as significant elevators of mood, stress busters, immunity boosters and blood pressure and cholesterol reducers. It can also stimulate appetite for the malnourished.

28 Apr 2010

Interim results from Phase I clinical trial of PLX-PAD for treatment of CLI

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. today announced interim top-line results from its Phase I clinical trials utilizing its placenta-derived cell therapy product, PLX-PAD, for the treatment of critical limb ischemia, the end-stage of peripheral artery disease. The interim data demonstrated that PLX-PAD is safe, well tolerated and effective.

27 Apr 2010

Medication-free home ventilation system designed to remove allergens

According to a recent report by USA Today, due to 2010's unusually cold winter temperatures, allergy sufferers are now poised to experience the worst pollen season in years, with pollen counts skyrocketing and sufferers hiding indoors to avoid exposure. Yet as allergens creep indoors, sufferers continue to cough, sneeze and seek relief. With the introduction of EZ Breathe, a new innovative home ventilation system designed to remove allergens and reduce indoor concentrations of pollen, allergy sufferers now have a medication-free solution.

27 Apr 2010

Scientists now closer to produce drugs to fix disease-causing mutations, spare healthy genes

Inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis can be caused by genetic "nonsense mutations" that disrupt the way human cells make proteins. David Bedwell, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Microbiology, says scientists are now closer to producing drugs that will fix this disruption and drastically improve treatment of genetic disease.

27 Apr 2010

People infected with gastrointestinal worms respond better to injected vaccines

According to the World Health Organization, two billion people around the globe suffer from chronic parasitic worm infections, which, in addition to causing illness and developmental delay, are also suspected to interfere with the effectiveness of ordinary vaccines, making their victims more vulnerable to life-threatening diseases. A recent discovery by researchers at the Trudeau Institute promises to bypass these obstacles and help deliver more effective vaccines to these people, boosting their protection against common childhood diseases.

27 Apr 2010

Melanin-covered nanoparticles may protect bone marrow from harmful radiation therapy effects: Research

Tiny, melanin-covered nanoparticles may protect bone marrow from the harmful effects of radiation therapy, according to scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University who successfully tested the strategy in mouse models.

27 Apr 2010

Chokeberry extract reduces weight gain in insulin-resistant animals

Chokeberry bushes have for centuries been residents of eastern deciduous forests where their bright red and dark purple fruits continue to be favorite snacks of local bird species. Native Americans have also traditionally eaten dried chokeberries and prepared teas from parts of the plant, and several domesticated varieties now grace contemporary lawns and gardens from coast to coast.

26 Apr 2010

Nycomed, Merck enter co-promotion agreement for Daxas in Canada and Europe

Nycomed and Merck & Co., Inc. (based in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and known as MSD outside the USA and Canada) today announced that they have entered into a co-promotion agreement for Canada and certain European countries for the commercialization of Daxas® (roflumilast), an investigational once-daily tablet for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the two companies have signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the commercialization of Daxas® in the United Kingdom.

26 Apr 2010

Temperature-sensing ability in proteins remain a mystery

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) have shed new light on the molecular mechanism that enables us to sense temperature, such as the heat from a sizzling stove. In addition to contributing to our knowledge of basic biology, the findings could one day lead to new therapies for conditions such as acute or chronic inflammatory pain.

24 Apr 2010

Plant-based vaccine factory to produce vaccines and therapeutics within weeks of outbreaks

The Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology in Newark, Delaware, the Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation in Boston, Massachusetts, the Boston University College of Engineering, and the biopharmaceutical company iBio, Inc. in Newark, Delaware, announced today that they have developed a fully automated, scalable "factory" that uses natural (non-genetically-modified) green plants to efficiently produce large quantities of vaccines and therapeutics within weeks.

23 Apr 2010

Astellas Pharma extends tender offer for OSI Pharmaceuticals

Astellas Pharma Inc. announced today that it has extended its all-cash tender offer for $52 per share for all of the currently outstanding shares of common stock (including the associated stock purchase rights) of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on Monday, May 17, 2010, unless further extended.

23 Apr 2010

pHase Pharmaceuticals launches new drug development company

pHase Pharmaceuticals, LLC announces the launch of its new drug development company. pHase Pharmaceuticals is led by a cohesive team of drug development experts who have extensive experience bringing new drugs to market and garnering FDA approval.

23 Apr 2010

Deadly fungus on the move

Researchers revealed this Thursday that a deadly fungus that is usually found only in the tropics is making its way to the Pacific Coast of British Columbia and south into Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

23 Apr 2010

Genetic tests that may replace biopsies

Genetic tests conducted on blood samples may replace the current biopsies when it comes to checking if immune systems are rejecting new organs of heart transplant patients. The test would be far less invasive and uncomfortable as compared to the biopsies, not to mention more affordable.

23 Apr 2010

Human lymphocytes produce hepcidin that regulate iron levels in the body: Study

For some years now a small group of scientists have been pioneering a revolutionary idea - that the vertebrate immune system could have a role in the regulation of iron in the body. And now, a work soon to be published in the journal Immunology, shows that human lymphocytes (white blood cells) actually produce hepcidin, the most important protein in the regulation of iron levels in the body.

22 Apr 2010

International Day for Fighting Infection focuses on hospital infection control

Hospital acquired infections are the focus for the 3rd International Day for Fighting Infection, being marked on St. George’s Day, as experts meet to look at the evolution of infection control in hospitals.

22 Apr 2010

FDA approves Novartis Pharmaceuticals' Zortress for preventing rejection of kidney transplants

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zortress® (everolimus) oral tablets for the prevention of rejection of kidney transplants in adult patients at low-to-moderate immunologic risk. Zortress is to be given in combination with reduced doses of the calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) cyclosporine, as well as basiliximab and corticosteroids.

22 Apr 2010

Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Presence and type of cirrhosis complications are strong predictors of mortality: Study

Talecris Biotherapeutics first-quarter net income increases 35.6% to $45.3 million

Lycera to advance discovery, development efforts with second tranche of $11 million Series A financing

Laughter is truly the best medicine says new research

Interim results from Phase I clinical trial of PLX-PAD for treatment of CLI

Medication-free home ventilation system designed to remove allergens

Scientists now closer to produce drugs to fix disease-causing mutations, spare healthy genes

People infected with gastrointestinal worms respond better to injected vaccines

Melanin-covered nanoparticles may protect bone marrow from harmful radiation therapy effects: Research

Chokeberry extract reduces weight gain in insulin-resistant animals

Nycomed, Merck enter co-promotion agreement for Daxas in Canada and Europe

Temperature-sensing ability in proteins remain a mystery

Plant-based vaccine factory to produce vaccines and therapeutics within weeks of outbreaks

Astellas Pharma extends tender offer for OSI Pharmaceuticals

pHase Pharmaceuticals launches new drug development company

Deadly fungus on the move

Genetic tests that may replace biopsies

Human lymphocytes produce hepcidin that regulate iron levels in the body: Study

International Day for Fighting Infection focuses on hospital infection control

FDA approves Novartis Pharmaceuticals' Zortress for preventing rejection of kidney transplants

Immunology eBook

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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