Rheumatoid Arthritis News and Research

Latest Rheumatoid Arthritis News and Research

Positive impact on medication adherence through Aetna's care management program

Aetna announced today results of an analysis from the first half of 2009, demonstrating an average medication adherence of over 95 percent for its members taking Specialty medications. Disease states evaluated in Aetna’s analysis include: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, Crohn's disease, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), psoriasis, Hepatitis C and asthma.

4 Sep 2009

Pzifer to pay $2.3 billion in medicare/medicaid fraud settlement

The Obama administration announced a landmark $2.3 billion health care fraud settlement with Pfizer, Inc. Wednesday, which is expected to change drug companies' promotion of off-label use of medicines.

4 Sep 2009

IND for Cytopia's CYT387 clears the FDA review

Cytopia Limited's Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for CYT387 has passed US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review. CYT387 is a small-molecule oral JAK1/JAK2 kinase inhibitor designed to treat various haematological disorders.

4 Sep 2009

Results of Phase 2 rheumatoid arthritis clinical trial announced

Array BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRY) announced its preliminary analysis of results from a study examining ARRY-162, a small molecule MEK inhibitor, in a 12-week Phase 2 clinical trial with 201 patients.

4 Sep 2009

Fashion show to help raise public awareness of psoriasis

Today, Tim Gunn, television host and fashion consultant ("Project Runway," "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style") and chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne, Inc., is hosting the Addressing Psoriasis(TM) Fashion Show, sponsored by Amgen and Wyeth, in New York City.

3 Sep 2009

Biogen Idec's MS franchise to present at the 25th Congress of ECTRIMS

Biogen Idec today announced more than 70 platform and poster presentations from the company’s multiple sclerosis (MS) franchise being presented during the 25th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Düsseldorf, Germany.

3 Sep 2009

Gene causing periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis identified

Investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery, collaborating with researchers from other institutions, have contributed to the discovery that a gene called interferon regulator factor-8 (IRF-8) is involved in the development of diseases such as periodontitis (gum disease), rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The study, which will be published online August 30, ahead of print, in the journal Nature Medicine, could lead to new treatments in the future.

2 Sep 2009

Positive results from second pivotal phase III trial for Lodotra

Nitec Pharma AG ("Nitec" or "Nitec Pharma"), a Switzerland-based specialty pharma company focused on the development and commercialization of medicines to treat chronic inflammation and pain-related diseases, today announced positive results from the second pivotal phase III trial for its lead product, Lodotra(TM).

2 Sep 2009

T cells influence aggressive immune cells by regulating the chemical environment between cells

University of Michigan scientists say they have uncovered a fundamentally new mechanism that holds in check aggressive immune cells that can attack the body's own cells. The findings open a new avenue of research for future therapies for conditions ranging from autoimmune diseases to organ transplants to cancer.

2 Sep 2009

Nuvo Research's co-operative drug development project with Fraunhofer Institute for developing WF10

Nuvo Research Inc., a Canadian drug development company focused on the research and development of drug products that are delivered to and through the skin using its topical and transdermal drug delivery technologies, and on the development of its immune modulating drug candidate WF10, today announced a co-operative drug development project with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI in Leipzig, Germany for the preclinical and clinical development of WF10 as a potential treatment for Allergic Rhinitis.

2 Sep 2009

Pathogenic microbes can suppress immune system in newborns

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterial pathogen that causes sepsis and meningitis in newborn infants, is able to shut down immune cell function in order to promote its own survival, according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

2 Sep 2009

Medivir adds MIV-711 to bone-related disorder treatment candidate portfolio

Medivir (STO:MVIRB) has deepened its presence, and expanded its commercial interest, in the therapeutic area of bone diseases by selecting a further candidate drug that targets the protease cathepsin K, a recognized drug target in this area. This builds on Medivir’s existing interest in bone related disorders which includes already one candidate drug and positive phase I experience from MIV-701.

1 Sep 2009

Cimzia approved for treating adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis

UCB Canada Inc. announced today that Health Canada has approved Cimzia, the only PEGylated anti-TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor), for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

1 Sep 2009

New study discovers link between work stress and rheumatoid arthritis development

A Swedish study published in one of the latest issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics discloses new relationships between stress at work and development of rheumatoid arthritis.

1 Sep 2009

Fernando Pisani and 24 hockey players helped raise funds and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

The spirit of giving back was as strong as ever this weekend at the first ever Score for Colitis & Crohn's event, which raised $20,000 for four gastrointestinal and digestive disease patient organizations from across the country. The Score for Colitis & Crohn's initiative, which took place at the West Edmonton Mall's Ice Palace on Saturday, August 29th, featured Fernando Pisani of the Edmonton Oilers and 24 aspiring young hockey enthusiasts who were all on hand to help raise funds and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the latter of which Pisani was diagnosed with in 2007.

31 Aug 2009

New Drug Application for VIMOVO accepted by U.S. Food and Drug Administration

POZEN Inc. (NASDAQ:POZN), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for VIMOVO™ (enteric-coated naproxen / immediate release esomeprazole magnesium, formerly know as PN 400).

31 Aug 2009

Study reveals that downregulation of IRF-8 gene causes gum diseases, arthritis and osteoporosis

31 Aug 2009

Clinical data added to ORENCIA labeling help treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that clinical data added to the labeling for ORENCIA (abatacept) support use of ORENCIA for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis of less than or equal to two years duration.

27 Aug 2009

Significant drop in prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis between 2000 and 2001

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health examined records of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from the national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system to determine the prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) in this population. The study found a downward trend in the number of RA patients who go on to develop RV, with a significant drop of 53% among inpatients and 31% among outpatients between 2000 and 2001.

27 Aug 2009

FDA advisory panel recommends ban of pain medications Vicodin and Percocet

An advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recommended limiting sales of acetaminophen products like Tylenol and also recommended banning prescription pain medications Vicodin and Percocet. This recommendation will prompt more people to change their habits and focus on joint pain remedy and pain relievers found in the natural vitamin supplements industry for arthritis treatment.

27 Aug 2009