Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Latest Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Update on CEL-SCI's Phase III clinical trial of Multikine

CEL-SCI Corporation today provided an update on its planned Phase III clinical trial of its cancer immunotherapy drug candidate Multikine. The Company, together with its development partners Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Orient Europharma, has already selected 40 of the planned 50 global medical centers where the Multikine Phase III study will be conducted.

6 May 2010

Researchers analyze spine surgery patients' existing comorbdities in relationship to hospital stay, costs

It is estimated that between 75 and 85 percent of all Americans will suffer from low back pain and/or neck pain at some point in their lives. An estimated 12 million Americans suffer from degenerative disc disease, with over one million patients undergoing surgery each year. The cost of treating back pain is currently estimated at more than $100 billion annually in the U.S. Many patients with back pain have comorbidities that impact spine surgery.

5 May 2010

FDA's call for further review of pirfenidone disappointing for Pulmonary Fibrosis patients, says CPF

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF), representing tens of thousands of patients, is responding to the news that the FDA chose to ask for further study of Pirfenidone, which will delay potential approval of the first drug in the treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF), a lethal lung disease that is irreversible, progressive and deadly in an average of three years. On March 9, 2010, an FDA Advisory Committee recommended approval of the drug by the FDA.

5 May 2010

Americans and their babies are gaining more body fat: Study

A new study has found for the first time that as Americans are gaining more body fat, so are their babies. The research, which reviewed data from more than 74,000 births, found that a key measure of body fat composition in newborns increased significantly over a 15-year period, mirroring similar increases among pregnant mothers. The findings were presented Sunday by researchers from Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting.

5 May 2010

ChemoCentryx reports positive data with Traficet-EN in Crohn's disease trial

ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced that it reported positive data with Traficet-EN™ (CCX282-B) in the Maintenance period of PROTECT-1 (Prospective Randomized Oral Therapy Evaluation in Crohn's disease Trial-1). Traficet-EN maintained a clinical remission rate (Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) less than 150) of approximately 50% in Crohn's patients over the course of 36 weeks, whereas in the placebo group remission decreased progressively from 50% to 31%.

5 May 2010

$Seniors who consume high dietary protein are less likely to suffer hip fractures$

Seniors who consume high dietary protein are less likely to suffer hip fractures

Seniors who consume a higher level of dietary protein are less likely to suffer hip fractures than seniors whose daily dietary protein intake is less, according to a new study by the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

5 May 2010

Osiris Therapeutics' Prochymal granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has been granted Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Prochymal as a treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The FDA instituted the Orphan Drug Act to promote the development of treatments for underserved patient populations. To be eligible for Orphan Drug designation, the treatment must target a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 new patients per year in the United States.

5 May 2010

Roche announces Health Canada approval for ACTEMRA to treat RA

Roche today announced that Health Canada has approved ACTEMRA(TM) (tocilizumab) to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease of the joints and surrounding tissues that is associated with intense pain, irreversible joint destruction and systemic complications, such as fatigue and anemia.

4 May 2010

Rigel Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $22.3M for first-quarter 2010

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

4 May 2010

Mylan Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Bupropion HCl ER Tablets

Mylan Inc. today announced that its subsidiary Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Abbreviated New Drug Application for Bupropion Hydrochloride Extended-release Tablets USP, 150 mg, the generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's smoking cessation aid, Zyban.

4 May 2010

Karolinska Institutet researchers discover new control mechanism in immune system

Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new control mechanism in our immune system. The discovery is of potential significance to the treatment of serious diseases such as MS (multiple sclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis, and SLE (Systemic lupus erythematosus).

4 May 2010

USPTO rejects WARF's stem cell patent claims

In what two consumer groups today praised as a victory for open scientific inquiry, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected a controversial patent on human embryonic stem cells held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).

4 May 2010

National Cancer Institute data: San Francisco has highest rate of liver cancer in the nation

Recent data released from the National Cancer Institute confirms that San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the nation. The leading cause of liver cancer is hepatitis B.

4 May 2010

Tart cherries reduce osteoarthritis pain

Arthritis affects about one-quarter of Americans and has been called "the coming epidemic" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 67 million adults are expected to be afflicted by 2030. May is National Arthritis Month and experts like registered dietitian Dave Grotto want Americans to take a food-first approach to managing arthritis pain.

4 May 2010

Natural plant extract could help treat COPD and inflammatory disorders

A widely and safely used plant extract acts as a novel anti-inflammatory agent that may one day be used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as well as other inflammatory conditions.

4 May 2010

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals presents Phase 2 cobiprostone clinical trial data at DDW 2010

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today presented results of a phase 2 clinical trial of cobiprostone, an investigational drug, for the prevention of gastric ulcers and other gastrointestinal injuries in patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These data were presented at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2010 conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of the distinguished abstract plenary session.

4 May 2010

ACTS Retirement-Life Communities announces affiliation with PUMH, Heron Point

ACTS Retirement-Life Communities, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit senior living organizations, today announced that it has completed an affiliation with the Peninsula United Methodist Homes, Inc. (PUMH) and Heron Point of Chestertown (Heron Point), and will assume management and operation of four continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in Delaware and Maryland.

3 May 2010

NIAID researchers initiate trial of DAS181 in patients with asthma, bronchiectasis

NexBio, Inc. announced today the initiation of a trial of DAS181 (Fludase®) in patients with the respiratory conditions asthma and bronchiectasis, being conducted by researchers with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This trial will examine the effects of DAS181 in subjects with well-controlled or stable pulmonary disease.

3 May 2010

Protect eyes from sun's UV rays to decrease risk of eye diseases, disorders

With summer right around the corner, more people will be spending time outdoors and UV protection will be top of mind. Unfortunately, most people think about the protection of their skin, when they should also be considering the safety of their eyes. In fact, according to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) American Eye-Q® survey, only one-third of Americans said UV protection is the most important factor they consider when purchasing sunglasses.

3 May 2010

BioTime acquires ES Cell International

BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of human stem cells and regenerative medicine, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of the Singapore company ES Cell International Pte Ltd.

3 May 2010