Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Pluristem's PLacental eXpanded cell therapy effective against neuropathic and inflammatory nerve pain

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. today announced the results of two separate pre-clinical studies in animal models which demonstrated that its PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cell therapy may be an effective treatment for both neuropathic and inflammatory nerve pain. These animal studies were conducted in collaboration with the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) and the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, both at the Charité-Universitätsmedizin of Berlin, Germany.

10 Aug 2010

Apte wins Elkeles Prize for outstanding scientist in field of medicine

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Professor Ron N. Apte has been awarded the 2010 Samuel and Paula Elkeles Prize for Outstanding Scientist in the Field of Medicine.

9 Aug 2010

Opexa Therapeutics aims to complete planned experiments, develop clinical study protocols

Opexa Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing Tovaxin, a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 and provided an update on its corporate developments.

7 Aug 2010

ViroPharma announces data on safety, efficacy of Cinryze to treat acute angioedema attacks

ViroPharma Incorporated today announced that data from Phase 3 studies of Cinryze (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) have been published in the August 5, 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The paper entitled Nanofiltered C1 Inhibitor Concentrate for Treatment of Hereditary Angioedema by Dr. Bruce L. Zuraw et al. describes the safety and efficacy of Cinryze in treating and preventing attacks of hereditary angioedema. Cinryze is the first and only FDA-approved C1 esterase inhibitor therapy indicated for routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare, debilitating and potentially fatal disease; it is not approved by the FDA to treat acute angioedema attacks.

6 Aug 2010

Salamander research findings bring scientists closer to future regenerative therapies

Tissue regeneration in salamanders and newts seems like it should be the stuff of science fiction. But it happens routinely. Why can't we mammals just re-grow a limb or churn out a few new heart muscle cells as needed? New research suggests there might be a very good reason: Restricting our cells' ability to pop in and out of the cell cycle at will - a prerequisite for the cell division necessary to make new tissue - reduces the chances that they'll run amok and form potentially deadly cancers.

6 Aug 2010

Dyax announces first Phase 3 trial results of KALBITOR for acute HAE

Dyax Corp. announced today that results from EDEMA3, the Company's first Phase 3 trial evaluating KALBITOR (ecallantide) for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema, were published in the August issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. KALBITOR, discovered and developed by Dyax, is available in the United States for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE in patients 16 years of age and older.

6 Aug 2010

Scientists find new way to make beating heart cells from body's own cells

Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease have found a new way to make beating heart cells from the body's own cells that could help regenerate damaged hearts. Over 5 million Americans suffer from heart failure because the heart has virtually no ability to repair itself after a heart attack.

6 Aug 2010

YM concludes dose-escalation in CYT387 Phase I/II clinical trial for myelofibrosis

YM BioSciences Inc., announced the conclusion of dose-escalation in the Phase I portion of its Phase I/II clinical trial of CYT387 at Mayo Clinic in patients with myelofibrosis. In total, 21 patients were treated in Phase I, with no voluntary withdrawals reported. CYT387 has shown significant activity in reducing spleen size and controlling constitutional symptoms in these patients.

5 Aug 2010

Scientist invents new approach to boost body's response to vaccinations

As the medical community searches for better vaccines and ways to deliver them, a University of Rochester scientist believes he has discovered a new approach to boosting the body's response to vaccinations.Richard P. Phipps, Ph.D., found that the same molecules used in drugs that treat diabetes also stimulate B cells in the immune system, pushing them to make antibodies for protection against invading microorganisms.

5 Aug 2010

Achievement of tenth milestone triggers EUR 2.5 million payment from Boehringer Ingelheim to Evotec

Evotec AG today announced that its research alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim has reached a milestone, triggering a payment of EUR 2.5 million to Evotec. The milestone reached was the selection of a candidate compound for pre-development studies in an inflammation and immunology programme.

4 Aug 2010

Researchers identify TACI; MyD88 activates immune system against infection

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found a new mechanism that explains how certain immune cells are activated to create protective antibodies against infections or pathological antibodies such as those present in autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The research is published online in the September issue of Nature Immunology.

4 Aug 2010

Researchers discover manipulation of microRNA-29a shows potential of novel IBS treatment

A possible cause of irritable bowel syndrome has been traced to a small piece of RNA that blocks a substance protecting the colon membrane, leading to hostile conditions that can produce diarrhea, bloating and chronic abdominal pain.New research shows that this RNA segment sends signals that stop the activity of the gene that produces glutamine, an amino acid. Previous research has linked a shortage of glutamine in the gut with the seepage of toxins and bacteria through the intestinal wall, irritating nerves and creating disease symptoms.

3 Aug 2010

Merck reports strong bottom-line performance in second quarter

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter of $0.86, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, merger-related expenses, restructuring costs and the gain on AstraZeneca's asset option exercise. Second-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.24.

2 Aug 2010

Scientists identify way to regulate uncontrolled growth of blood vessels

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new way to regulate the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels, a major problem in a broad range of diseases and conditions.

2 Aug 2010

WHO expert: Faster MDR-TB test should be made available to vulnerable populations

A new diagnostic tool that shortens the diagnosis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) from eight weeks to two hours should be made available to vulnerable populations according to a WHO expert, Reuters reports.

31 Jul 2010

Measuring GAPDH inhibiting antibodies can result in long-term treatment for MS

UCI immunologists have found that testing for increased levels of antibodies that inhibit energy production in neurons can detect axon and neuron degeneration in multiple sclerosis earlier than existing diagnostic tools.

31 Jul 2010

CD74 can serve as prognostic marker for colorectal cancer

CD74 is a protein that is expressed in and on cells of the immune system, such as B lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells. This protein is known for its function in facilitating antigen presentation enabling the immune response. Additionally, Professor Shachar's lab has previously shown that CD74 serves as a survival receptor on cells of the immune system, and that its stimulation by its natural ligand -migration inhibitory factor (MIF)- prevents apoptosis (self destruction) of these cells. It was shown that CD74 is markedly expressed on numerous tumors - hematologic as well as epithelial, and can serve as a prognostic marker. CD74's expression and function on colon intestinal epithelial cells is controversial.

31 Jul 2010

Chemical compound provides new angle for developing drugs to treat seizures: Study

A chemical compound that boosts the action of a molecule normally produced in the brain may provide the starting point for a new line of therapies for the treatment of epileptic seizures, according to a new study by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute.

30 Jul 2010

White button mushrooms can keep the immune system healthy: Study

Mushrooms are among the many foods thought to play an important role in keeping the immune system healthy. Now, Agricultural Research Service funded scientists have conducted an animal-model and cell-culture study showing that white button mushrooms enhanced the activity of critical cells in the body's immune system.

30 Jul 2010

New paradigm in TB research may lead to improved vaccination, treatment

Often causing no symptoms in carriers of the disease, worldwide tuberculosis (TB) infects eight to ten million people every year, kills two million, and it is highly contagious as it is spread through coughing and sneezing. "It's a global health disaster waiting to happen, even here in Canada, but this new paradigm in TB research may offer an immediate opportunity to improve vaccination and treatment initiatives," explains Dr. Maziar Divangahi of McGill University and of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.

30 Jul 2010

Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Pluristem's PLacental eXpanded cell therapy effective against neuropathic and inflammatory nerve pain

Apte wins Elkeles Prize for outstanding scientist in field of medicine

Opexa Therapeutics aims to complete planned experiments, develop clinical study protocols

ViroPharma announces data on safety, efficacy of Cinryze to treat acute angioedema attacks

Salamander research findings bring scientists closer to future regenerative therapies

Dyax announces first Phase 3 trial results of KALBITOR for acute HAE

Scientists find new way to make beating heart cells from body's own cells

YM concludes dose-escalation in CYT387 Phase I/II clinical trial for myelofibrosis

Scientist invents new approach to boost body's response to vaccinations

Achievement of tenth milestone triggers EUR 2.5 million payment from Boehringer Ingelheim to Evotec

Researchers identify TACI; MyD88 activates immune system against infection

Researchers discover manipulation of microRNA-29a shows potential of novel IBS treatment

Merck reports strong bottom-line performance in second quarter

Scientists identify way to regulate uncontrolled growth of blood vessels

WHO expert: Faster MDR-TB test should be made available to vulnerable populations

Measuring GAPDH inhibiting antibodies can result in long-term treatment for MS

CD74 can serve as prognostic marker for colorectal cancer

Chemical compound provides new angle for developing drugs to treat seizures: Study

White button mushrooms can keep the immune system healthy: Study

New paradigm in TB research may lead to improved vaccination, treatment

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