Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Antigenics announces name change to Agenus

Antigenics Inc. today announced that effective immediately it is changing its name to Agenus Inc. The company's stock will continue to be traded on NASDAQ under the symbol AGEN. The new name reflects the broadening of the company's product portfolio of clinical candidates beyond autologous antigen-based vaccines, as well as its commitment to actively pursuing licensing opportunities to leverage its development capabilities and expand its product portfolio.

6 Jan 2011

Impact of flu vaccine opt-out is being seen as A(H1N1) returns to Europe

As the UK and a number of European countries are now experiencing epidemics of influenza, including A(H1N1) which was the 2009 pandemic virus, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) warns that the consequences of non-vaccination could emerge as a new flu emergency and are calling for greater efforts to encourage vaccination, not only for at risk groups but also health care workers.

6 Jan 2011

J&JPRD submits New Drug Application to FDA for rivaroxaban

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. announced today that it has submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for rivaroxaban, an investigational, oral, once-daily anticoagulant, for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

6 Jan 2011

Scientists identify prognostic biomarker to treat patients with HCV

Scientists at Inserm and Institut Pasteur have performed biomarker discovery on patients being treated for chronic hepatitis C infection. Their work, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, demonstrates that the plasma levels of the protein IP-10 predict, prior to treatment initiation, the efficacy of treatment with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin.

6 Jan 2011

Study provides new insights into how viruses establish chronic infections

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers in Melbourne, Australia, have discovered how a key viral gene helps viruses evade early detection by the immune system. Their finding is providing new insights into how viruses are able to establish chronic infections, leading scientists to reevaluate their approaches to viral vaccine development.

6 Jan 2011

Investigators receive two Alpha-1 Foundation grants for research on lung disorder

The Alpha-1 Foundation announced today that it has awarded two research grants to investigators whose research will contribute to our understanding of the causes and mechanisms that give rise to lung disease.

6 Jan 2011

Unique vaccine produces long-lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice

Researchers from The Scripps Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Cornell University have produced a long-lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice by giving them a unique vaccine that combines bits of the common cold virus with a particle that mimics cocaine.

5 Jan 2011

Researchers develop unique vaccine that produces long-lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice

5 Jan 2011

Diet low in micronutrients can contribute to metabolic syndrome

Results of an epidemiological study conducted by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and the Corporacion Ecuatoriana de Biotecnologia showed that the metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, was prevalent in a low-income urban community in Ecuador and that a poor diet low in micronutrients appeared to contribute.

5 Jan 2011

Flu outbreak peak yet to come: Experts

Parents of kids returning to school in the UK after Christmas holidays have been warned of a surge in flu cases. Professor John Oxford, a leading virologist at St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospital explained that children returning to school in the past prompted a rise in the number of flu cases. “You tend to get a surge,” the professor said. “I would anticipate a surge, but how long that will last is difficult to say.” He added, “This virus is not going to go away next week. Even if it’s already peaked, it’s still going to be around for the next couple of weeks and it’s still worthwhile being vaccinated at this stage.”

4 Jan 2011

Los Angeles Magazine declares LA BioMed physicians as 2011 Southern California Super Doctors

A select 40 physician-researchers at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center were named 2011 Southern California Super Doctors in the January issue of Los Angeles Magazine.

4 Jan 2011

Flu worries continue

The flu season continues to affect more people. Experts have warned the Britons are still at risk as the surge in flu cases has still not yet peaked. The cases would increase they warn, over the next two to four weeks. World Health Organization released figures that show the rate of influenza-like illnesses is still low across continental Europe but has risen dramatically in Britain since the flu season began in October.

3 Jan 2011

Flu worries continue

As number of cases of flu rise in the UK, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is under pressure to strengthen the flu vaccination campaign. He reinstated a public health “Catch It, Bin It, Kill It” advertising campaign after he was warned by government advisers of the need to improve immunization rates which are at their lowest this winter for many years. It had been discontinued despite helping educate the public to adopt good hygiene habits during last year’s H1N1 swine flu epidemic at a cost of just £609,000. There were 12 more deaths in the last week from flu, bringing the total this winter to 39, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said today. Thirty-six were killed by H1N1 swine flu, which is the most virulent of the two main flu strains currently circulating. The others died after contracting Influenza B, the other strain. All except one of the 39 were under 65 and four were under five.

2 Jan 2011

Tips to avoid allergy and asthma triggers at the gym

A New Year's resolution to get in shape is good news for your health. But if you have allergies or asthma, the hidden triggers at the gym may be bad for your condition.

30 Dec 2010

Centocor Ortho Biotech files REMICADE sBLA for ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. announced today that it has filed a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the approval of REMICADE® (infliximab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in pediatric patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy.

29 Dec 2010

CFTR protein regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema, chronic lung diseases

A team of Johns Hopkins Children's Center researchers has discovered that a protein involved in cystic fibrosis also regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema and may be responsible for other chronic lung diseases.

29 Dec 2010

Molecular interaction between structural HCV protein and protein critical to viral replication identified

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have identified a molecular interaction between a structural hepatitis C virus protein (HCV) and a protein critical to viral replication. This new finding strongly suggests a novel method of inhibiting the production of the virus and a potential new therapeutic target for hepatitis C drug development.

29 Dec 2010

Good Clostridia prevents development of allergies and inflammatory bowel disease

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have discovered that specific gut-dwelling bacteria control key immune cells that combat allergies and autoimmune diseases. The paper describing these findings was published in today's issue of the journal Science, and technology originating from the work is being advanced by start-up Vedanta Biosciences.

24 Dec 2010

Janssen files abiraterone acetate NDS with Health Canada for metastatic, advanced prostate cancer

Janssen Inc. has filed a New Drug Submission (NDS) to Health Canada for the investigational drug abiraterone acetate administered with prednisone for the treatment of metastatic, advanced prostate cancer in patients who have received prior chemotherapy containing a taxane. Submissions for abiraterone acetate have also been filed with health authorities in the United States and Europe.

23 Dec 2010

Scientist discovers molecular switch controlling synthesis of ribosomes

A scientist from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute has discovered a molecular switch that controls the synthesis of ribosomes. Ribosomes are the large machineries inside all living cells that produce proteins, the basic working units of any cell. These new findings offer a novel target for potential treatments for a range of diseases, including cancer.

23 Dec 2010

Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Antigenics announces name change to Agenus

Impact of flu vaccine opt-out is being seen as A(H1N1) returns to Europe

J&JPRD submits New Drug Application to FDA for rivaroxaban

Scientists identify prognostic biomarker to treat patients with HCV

Study provides new insights into how viruses establish chronic infections

Investigators receive two Alpha-1 Foundation grants for research on lung disorder

Unique vaccine produces long-lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice

Researchers develop unique vaccine that produces long-lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice

Diet low in micronutrients can contribute to metabolic syndrome

Flu outbreak peak yet to come: Experts

Los Angeles Magazine declares LA BioMed physicians as 2011 Southern California Super Doctors

Flu worries continue

Flu worries continue

Tips to avoid allergy and asthma triggers at the gym

Centocor Ortho Biotech files REMICADE sBLA for ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients

CFTR protein regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema, chronic lung diseases

Molecular interaction between structural HCV protein and protein critical to viral replication identified

Good Clostridia prevents development of allergies and inflammatory bowel disease

Janssen files abiraterone acetate NDS with Health Canada for metastatic, advanced prostate cancer

Scientist discovers molecular switch controlling synthesis of ribosomes

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