Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

FDA's recommendations over LABAs: AANMA advises patients to make informed decisions

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) encourages patients to make informed decisions about recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations affecting patients using asthma medications known as long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) or 12-hour bronchodilators: Advair, Foradil, Serevent and Symbicort.

3 Mar 2010

Majority of PI patients can be switched to IgPro20 without dose adjustment

Data from a European multicenter (non-IND study) showing that patients with PI who switched to IgPro20 from previously available SCIg formulations achieved comparable IgG trough levels without dosage adjustment, resulting in significantly less administration volume. The data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US.

3 Mar 2010

Step-up treatments may benefit children with asthma on low-dose inhaled corticosteroids

Children with asthma who continue to have symptoms while using low-dose inhaled corticosteroids could benefit from increasing the dosage or adding one of two asthma drugs, a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine and other institutions finds.

3 Mar 2010

Merck’s MF/F Phase III study data presented at AAAAI annual meeting

Data from two Phase III studies of Merck’s investigational fixed-dose combinations of mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate (MF/F) were presented by researchers today in two poster presentations at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting.

3 Mar 2010

Study: LABA can be effective step-up treatment for children whose asthma is not well controlled

For children whose asthma is not well controlled and on low doses of inhaled corticosteroids, a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) may be the most effective of three possible step-up treatments. National Jewish clinician-scientists Stanley Szefler, Joseph Spahn, Ronina Covar Gary Larsen and Lynn Taussig, and colleagues in the NIH-funded Childhood Asthma Research and Education Network published their findings March 2, 2010, online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

3 Mar 2010

Data demonstrating effectiveness of KALBITOR to treat acute HAE presented at AAAAI 2010 Annual Meeting

Data demonstrating the effectiveness of KALBITOR (ecallantide) to treat hereditary angioedema (HAE) acute attacks by primary attack location were provided in an oral presentation yesterday at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2010 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

3 Mar 2010

Solasia Pharma K.K. signs License and Supply Agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin to market SP-01

Solasia Pharma K.K. (http://www.solasia.co.jp), a developer of Western oncology pharmaceuticals in-licensed for commercialization in Asian markets, announced today the signing of a License and Supply Agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin that provides Kyowa Hakko Kirin with an exclusive right to market and sell SP-01 (extended release transdermal granisetron patch; brand name: Sancuso®) in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

3 Mar 2010

Phase III study results of Merck's allergy immunotherapy tablet

In new data from a Phase III study in 345 children and adolescents (ages 5-17 years), patients with grass pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis treated with Merck's investigational sublingual grass (Phleum Pratense) allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT) showed a 26 percent greater improvement in the total combined score (daily symptom score and daily medication score), compared to patients receiving placebo

3 Mar 2010

Corgenix Medical announces the availability of new automation friendly anti-phospholipid assay format

Corgenix Medical Corporation, a worldwide developer and marketer of diagnostic test kits, has announced the availability of its new automation friendly anti-phospholipid assay format.

2 Mar 2010

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

A new study using mice suggests that a repeated stressful situation that triggers the animals' natural "fight-or-flight" response may actually enhance their ability to fight disease when re-exposed to the same pathogen.

2 Mar 2010

C1-INH replacement therapy effective for treating acute swelling attacks in HAE

C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrate is an effective, well-tolerated therapy that rapidly relieves acute swelling attacks and successive attacks at any body location in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare and serious genetic disorder, according to data presented today at the 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting. Additional pharmacokinetic data presented at the meeting confirms that C1-INH concentrate has a longer half-life than other treatment options for HAE, which protects patients from rebound attacks.

2 Mar 2010

Patients with HAE experience prodromal symptoms before acute HAE attacks: Survey

Patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) experience prodromal or early warning symptoms before nearly three-quarters of their HAE attacks, according to survey findings presented today at the 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting.

2 Mar 2010

ZyGEM introduces new RNAGEM Tissue RNA extraction kits

ZyGEM Corp. Ltd., a provider of innovative enzyme-based products for DNA and RNA extraction and other life sciences applications, today announced the launch of its new RNAGEM™ Tissue RNA extraction kits. This product represents a significant advance in sample preparation for RNA-based testing and analysis.

2 Mar 2010

Study: EIB may affect lives and health of public if not addressed properly

For the vast majority of the general public, respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing are a common part of the exercise experience. However, together with chest tightness, noisy breathing and trouble taking a deep breath, these six symptoms make up the phenomenon known as exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), which has physical, emotional and psychological consequences if not addressed properly.

2 Mar 2010

GTC Biotherapeutics achieves high-level production of TG20 monoclonal antibody

GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that it has achieved high-level production of TG20; an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (MAb). The TG20 MAb, which is produced in the milk of transgenic goats, is being co-developed by GTC and LFB as part of the LFB-GTC joint venture.

2 Mar 2010

IgPro20 protects PI patients against infection

Data presented today suggest that 20 percent liquid formulation, Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human) (SCIg), or IgPro20 effectively protects patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PI) against infection. The 20 percent formulation, the highest Ig concentration currently available, was also shown to sustain serum IgG levels without causing unexpected rates of adverse events. The data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US.

2 Mar 2010

Life Technologies announces early stage results from SMS technology

Life Technologies Corporation today announced early stage results from its single molecule sequencing (SMS) technology. The technology promises to combine virtually unlimited continuous long read lengths with unmatched accuracy to deliver targeted genomic sequence data in a matter of hours, paving the way for sequencing to become a commonplace tool in research laboratories and clinical settings worldwide.

2 Mar 2010

Researchers proceed to develop vaccination to reverse neurological damage seen with Parkinson's disease

Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have taken a significant step forward in developing a vaccination approach to reverse the neurological damage seen with Parkinson's disease.

2 Mar 2010

McGill University and RI MUHC secure $300,000 CIHR grant to develop VLP vaccines

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have awarded a $300,000 grant for research focusing on the nature of the immune response induced by the action mechanisms of plant-made Virus-Like Particles (VLP) to Dr. Louis Vezina, Chief Scientific Officer of Medicago and to Dr. Brian Ward and Dr. Ciriaco Piccirillo of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC) and McGill University.

1 Mar 2010

Astellas Pharma to acquire OSI Pharmaceuticals for $3.5 billion on fully diluted basis

Astellas Pharma Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of OSI Pharmaceuticals for $52.00 per share in cash, or an aggregate of approximately $3.5 billion on a fully diluted basis.

1 Mar 2010

Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

FDA's recommendations over LABAs: AANMA advises patients to make informed decisions

Majority of PI patients can be switched to IgPro20 without dose adjustment

Step-up treatments may benefit children with asthma on low-dose inhaled corticosteroids

Merck’s MF/F Phase III study data presented at AAAAI annual meeting

Study: LABA can be effective step-up treatment for children whose asthma is not well controlled

Data demonstrating effectiveness of KALBITOR to treat acute HAE presented at AAAAI 2010 Annual Meeting

Solasia Pharma K.K. signs License and Supply Agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin to market SP-01

Phase III study results of Merck's allergy immunotherapy tablet

Corgenix Medical announces the availability of new automation friendly anti-phospholipid assay format

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

C1-INH replacement therapy effective for treating acute swelling attacks in HAE

Patients with HAE experience prodromal symptoms before acute HAE attacks: Survey

ZyGEM introduces new RNAGEM Tissue RNA extraction kits

Study: EIB may affect lives and health of public if not addressed properly

GTC Biotherapeutics achieves high-level production of TG20 monoclonal antibody

IgPro20 protects PI patients against infection

Life Technologies announces early stage results from SMS technology

Researchers proceed to develop vaccination to reverse neurological damage seen with Parkinson's disease

McGill University and RI MUHC secure $300,000 CIHR grant to develop VLP vaccines

Astellas Pharma to acquire OSI Pharmaceuticals for $3.5 billion on fully diluted basis

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