Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Latest Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Doctors may stop anti-TNF medications for RA patients before surgery to reduce disease flares

As guidelines recommend, doctors appear to be stopping anti-TNF medications before surgery, but may be doing so far sooner than is necessary, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. These medications are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and better timing of withdrawal prior to surgery might minimize the risk of disease flares.

6 Nov 2011

Final results from Vertex VX-509 Phase 2a study on RA

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced the final results from a Phase 2a study of the investigational selective oral JAK3 inhibitor VX-509.

6 Nov 2011

Patients with RA have lower expectations about postsurgical outcomes after TKA

Compared with osteoarthritis patients, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who undergo total knee replacement surgery have lower expectations about their postsurgical outcomes, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City.

6 Nov 2011

Psychological stress can trigger flares of vasculitis

In patients with a devastating form of vasculitis who are in remission, stress can be associated with a greater likelihood of the disease flaring, according to a new study by investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery.

6 Nov 2011

$Women under 50 with RA more likely to have new fractures$

Women under 50 with RA more likely to have new fractures

Women under 50 with rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk of breaking bones than women without the condition, according to a Mayo Clinic study being presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual scientific meeting in Chicago.

6 Nov 2011

Human Genome Sciences to present abstracts regarding BENLYSTA, SLE at ACR/ARHP meeting

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced today that several abstracts related to BENLYSTA (belimumab) and systemic lupus erythematosus will be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/ Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, being held in Chicago, IL from November 4 to November 9, 2011.

5 Nov 2011

APF launches new online educational module on safe use of CAM

The American Pain Foundation (APF) announced the launch of a new online educational module focusing on safe use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as part of its PainSAFE initiative.

5 Nov 2011

Dark, cold weather derails physical activity routines of older people with arthritis: Study

As cold winter weather sets in and daylight hours dwindle, many older Chicagoans with arthritis tend to sit idle, missing out on the daily dose of physical activity they need to improve their health, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.

5 Nov 2011

Results of Phase 2 program to develop NSAIDs to be reported at ACR annual meeting

The results of the Phase 2 program sponsored by Iroko Pharmaceuticals to develop novel, lower-dose formulations of a widely used class of pain medicines will be reported November 7th at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Chicago.

5 Nov 2011

SCRIP honors Glenmark for business excellence and innovative R & D capabilities

SCRIP, a leading global pharmaceutical and biotech news publication, honoured Glenmark with two global recognitions, for its business excellence and innovative R & D capabilities.

5 Nov 2011

Vertex announces 16 grant recipients of Hep-C Circle of Care program

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that it has awarded 16 grants totaling approximately $1.5 million to a variety of academic, patient and community groups as part of the Vertex Hep-C Circle of Care program, a pilot competitive grants program designed to foster innovative approaches to patient care and support people living with chronic hepatitis C.

5 Nov 2011

Positive data from RegeneRx RGN-259 Phase 2 trial on dry eye syndrome

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive data from its 72-patient, Phase 2 clinical trial with RGN-259, a sterile, preservative-free eye drop, to evaluate its safety and efficacy for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome over a treatment period of 30 days using the Controlled Adverse Environment (CAE) model.

5 Nov 2011

Osiris Therapeutics third quarter revenues decrease marginally to $10.6 million

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., the leading stem cell company focused on developing and marketing products to treat medical conditions in inflammatory and cardiovascular disease areas and wound healing, announced today its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

4 Nov 2011

Women and men ages 45 to 64 more likely to be hospitalized for knee replacement surgery

Women and men ages 45 to 64 were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for knee replacement surgery in 2009 than in 1997, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

4 Nov 2011

Quintiles receives two awards for clinical research

Quintiles' digital efforts to bridge the gaps between clinical research, patients and clinical trial participants have been recognized in the form of two International Davey Awards and a Web Health Award this week.

4 Nov 2011

Final results from Vertex KALYDECO second of two Phase 3 studies on CF

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced final results from the ENVISION study, the second of two pivotal Phase 3 studies of KALYDECO, a medicine in development that targets the defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis.

4 Nov 2011

Savient third quarter net loss decreases to $27.4 million

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, which reflect the Company's continuing investment in the U.S. launch of KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase). Savient ended the quarter with $202.7 million in cash and short-term investments, a decrease of $37.6 million for the quarter.

3 Nov 2011