Emphysema News and Research

Latest Emphysema News and Research

iBio successfully produces human plasma proteins using proprietary technology

iBio, Inc. today announced successful production of human plasma proteins using its proprietary iBioLaunch technology. Human alpha 1-antitrypsin and human C1 esterase inhibitor were successfully produced at high yield in green plants via the Company's proprietary iBioLaunch technology. Both of these proteins are important therapeutic products, but until now they have been made from human blood.

11 Jul 2011

Enrollment commences in InterMune's Esbriet Phase 3 study for IPF

InterMune today announced that patient enrollment has begun in ASCEND, a new Phase 3 study of pirfenidone for patients who suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

8 Jul 2011

Low-dose spiral CT scan can decrease mortality from lung cancer

Current or heavy smokers who were screened with low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning had a 20 percent reduction in deaths from lung cancer than did those who were screened by chest X-ray, according to results from a decade-long, large clinical trial that involved more than 53,000 people.

1 Jul 2011

Novartis reports NVA237 Phase III trial results against COPD

Sosei Group Corporation, announces that results reported today by Novartis from the pivotal Phase III GLOW2 clinical trial show that once-daily NVA237 50 mcg significantly improved lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) relative to placebo, with similar efficacy to open-label tiotropium.

30 Jun 2011

Two thirds of women with breast cancer more likely to die from cardiovascular disease

Breast cancer accounts for almost a third of all cancer cases reported in women. However advances in the treatment for breast cancer, and early detection, have improved the chances of survival from the disease.

20 Jun 2011

Scientists reveal complex protein mechanism that regulates genes linked with cancer

Scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and at IRB Barcelona reveal the mechanism of action of a protein that is essential for life and is associated with disease.

17 Jun 2011

Mist inhalers increase risk of death in patients with COPD

People who use a mist inhaler to deliver a drug widely prescribed in more than 55 countries to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be 52 percent more likely to die, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests.

16 Jun 2011

Rotech commences $283.5 million registered exchange offer

Rotech Healthcare Inc., one of the largest providers of home medical equipment and related products and services, announced today that it has commenced a registered exchange offer to exchange up to $283.5 million aggregate principal amount of its Senior Second Lien Notes due 2018 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended for an equal principal amount of its outstanding Senior Second Lien Notes due 2018, which were issued in a private placement.

15 Jun 2011

Tiotropium Respimat inhalers can increase risk of death in patients with bronchitis, emphysema

An inhaler designed to help chronic bronchitis and emphysema sufferers breathe could be significantly increasing their risk of dying, according to new research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and three US universities.

14 Jun 2011

Emphysema gene linked to lung cancer

A gene linked to emphysema also can be a factor for developing lung cancer unrelated to cigarette smoking, UT Southwestern Medical Center research indicates. Smoking was the only known risk factor previously associated with both diseases.

9 Jun 2011

Study determines surfactant protein-D as 'a good predictor' of cardiovascular disease

A blood protein known as surfactant protein-D (SP-D), which is mainly synthesised in the lungs, has been described as "a good predictor" of cardiovascular disease following a large study in North America.

8 Jun 2011

McGill researcher develops speedier technique for predicting protein folding pathways

Protein folding has nothing to do with laundry. It is, in fact, one of the central questions in biochemistry. Protein folding is the continual and universal process whereby the long, coiled strings of amino acids that make up proteins in all living things fold into more complex three-dimensional structures.

8 Jun 2011

Intrexon, Halozyme partner to develop subcutaneous alpha 1-antitrypsin for A1AT deficiency

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. and Intrexon Corporation, today announced the signing of a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement for the use of rHuPH20 in the development of a subcutaneous injectable formulation of Intrexon Corporation's recombinant human alpha 1-antitrypsin (rHuA1AT).

7 Jun 2011

New discoveries about role of blood vessels in early lung development

A research team at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles has made critical new discoveries about the role of blood vessels in guiding early lung development, especially in the essential, highly reproducible branching pattern of lung airways.

4 Jun 2011

Consumer groups, market experts support repeal of Medicare bidding program

Providers of home medical equipment and services in Oregon support H.R. 1041, a bipartisan bill in Congress that would repeal the controversial Medicare "competitive" bidding program for certain medically required equipment and services used at home.

4 Jun 2011

WHO warns of tobacco dangers on World No Tobacco Day

"Tobacco will kill nearly six million people this year, including 600,000 non-smokers, because governments are not doing enough to persuade people to quit or protect others from second-hand smoke, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday," which was observed as World No Tobacco Day, Reuters/Toronto Sun reports.

2 Jun 2011

Pulmonx announces new clinical data of Zephyr endobronchial valve in emphysema

Pulmonx Inc. has announced new clinical data from its Chartis multi-center study, presented at the American Thoracic Society's 2011 International Conference.

25 May 2011

Lung protein appears to play a key role in smoking-related emphysema

An international research team has identified a lung protein that appears to play a key role in smoking-related emphysema and have crafted an antibody to block its activity, Indiana University scientists reported.

17 May 2011

COPD Foundation to host biannual conference in the U.S. for the first time

Originally hosted in Europe on even calendar years, the COPD Conference series for researchers and healthcare professionals is coming to the U.S. for the first time. The COPD Foundation is hosting the COPD7USA Conference, named after the seventh COPD Conference held last summer in the U.K. COPD7USA will be held on December 3rd and 4th at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Crystal City, VA 22202.

17 May 2011

Study associates VDR gene variant with onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in men

Researchers have linked a variant in the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) with the onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Caucasian men. The study population consisted of participants in the Veterans Administration Normative Aging Study, a multidisciplinary study of aging that began in 1963.

16 May 2011