Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

International Society of Nephrology honors BIDMC Co-director for immune tolerance research

Terry Strom, MD, Co-director of the Transplant Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a leader in the field of immune tolerance research, was awarded the 2011 Alfred Newton Richards Award from the International Society of Nephrology during a program held earlier this month as part of the World Congress of Nephrology 2011 in Vancouver, Canada.

30 Apr 2011

Celgene non-GAAP total revenue increases 40% to $1.11 billion

Celgene Corporation: “The results for the quarter were outstanding and they reflect the ongoing momentum that Celgene is creating as we leverage our business model and position our Company for long-term success”.

28 Apr 2011

New discovery in cancer and autoimmune diseases

Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta have made an important discovery that provides a new understanding of how our immune system "learns" not to attack our own body, and this could affect the way doctors treat patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer.

28 Apr 2011

Seattle BioMed study to identify biomarkers for malaria vaccine design

In the first study of its type in the malaria field, Seattle BioMed has been awarded an $8.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to identify biomarkers that will allow malaria vaccine design based on robust predictors of protective immunity.

28 Apr 2011

New screening marker can detect pancreatic cancer

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a protein that shows distinct changes in structure between pancreatic cancer, non-cancerous diseases and normal blood serum. The protein also changes from early stage pancreatic cancer to advanced disease.

28 Apr 2011

ProtoKinetix, Imaginative Research Associates partner to formulate topical anti-inflammation product

ProtoKinetix, is pleased to announce, that it has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with Imaginative Research Associates, Inc. to formulate a topical anti-inflammation product for the skin care market.

27 Apr 2011

Clinical study: Plant extract can fight effectively against hay fever

Fighting hay fever with a plant extract - this works, as was shown in a clinical study conducted by researchers of the Center of Allergy & Environment of Helmholtz Zentrum München and Technische Universität München.

27 Apr 2011

ISC-4 topical compound may prevent skin cancer lesion formation

While incidents of melanoma continue to increase despite the use of sunscreen and skin screenings, a topical compound called ISC-4 may prevent melanoma lesion formation, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

27 Apr 2011

Signaling pathway reveals mechanism for B cell differentiation in immune response

An article in Science Signaling by researchers at the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology (RCAI) has clarified for the first time the mechanism governing differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing plasma cells. The finding establishes a role for the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in B cell differentiation, a key step toward the development of B cell-targeted drugs for treatment of autoimmune diseases and allergies.

25 Apr 2011

Kadmon Pharmaceuticals and Nano Terra announce worldwide licensing agreement

Kadmon Pharmaceuticals LLC, and Nano Terra, Inc., today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Kadmon has been granted a perpetual, worldwide exclusive license to three novel, clinical-stage product candidates owned by Nano Terra as well as rights to Nano Terra’s drug discovery platform, Pharmacomer™ Technology. The product candidates and technology platform will be transferred to a newly formed joint venture, NT Life Sciences (“NT Life”), co-owned by Kadmon and Nano Terra, which will act as the licensor and recipient of any licensing or royalty fees subject to the agreement. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

25 Apr 2011

NovaSterilis novel vaccine patent

NovaSterilis Inc., a leader in the development and commercialization of supercritical carbon dioxide technology, has been granted US Patent 7,919,096. The patent, dated April 5th 2011, is entitled “Inactivating Organisms Using Carbon Dioxide At or Near Supercritical Pressure and Temperature Conditions.”

25 Apr 2011

GM-CSF appears to be key culprit in multiple sclerosis onset

Reporting in Nature Immunology, Jefferson neuroscientists have identified a driving force behind autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and suggest that blocking this cell-signaling molecule is the first step in developing new treatments to eradicate these diseases.

25 Apr 2011

Nano Terra, Kadmon sign deal to license novel product candidates

25 Apr 2011

Study shows neutralizing antibodies against GM-CSF can halt MS development

The neutralization of the cytokine GM-CSF could halt the development of multiple sclerosis. This was demonstrated by the research team of the immunologist Burkhard Becher at the University of Zurich in an animal model.

25 Apr 2011

Researchers package drug-loaded 'nanodisks' into vault nanoparticles for therapeutic drug delivery

There's no question, drugs work in treating disease. But can they work better, and safer?

22 Apr 2011

The Healthy Home book on reducing health hazards advances in ranking on best sellers lists

The Healthy Home, a new book providing simple solutions for reducing toxins and other health hazards in the home, has advanced in ranking on several national best sellers lists within a month of publication. After becoming a Top 100 Amazon.com best seller following its first week of sales, The Healthy Home, released on March 22, quickly hit the New York Times, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and L.A. Times best sellers lists.

22 Apr 2011

Jeffrey Modell Foundation opens new center for primary immunodeficiency

The Jeffrey Modell Foundation today announced the opening of a new center at Johns Hopkins Children's Center dedicated to the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of children with primary immunodeficiency, a group of potentially fatal conditions in which the immune system malfunctions or is missing.

22 Apr 2011

Cephalon files definitive Consent Revocation Statement, recommends shareholders to reject Valeant's proposals

Cephalon, Inc. today announced that it has filed a definitive Consent Revocation Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urging shareholders to reject Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.'s proposals to remove Cephalon's entire Board of Directors and replace them with nominees hand-picked by Valeant.

22 Apr 2011

Valuable insight into immune response

An article in Science Signaling by researchers at the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology has clarified for the first time the mechanism governing differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing plasma cells.

22 Apr 2011

Researchers discover new compound to fight against shingles

Researchers at the University of Georgia and Yale University have discovered a compound with the potential to be more effective than existing agents in treating the very painful blisters known as shingles-a condition that affects up to 30 percent of Americans, mostly elderly, and for which no specific treatment exists.

22 Apr 2011