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Found 556 result(s) FROM 1963 pages containing the term 'disc degeneration'.
Friday Apr 09, 2010
Vaccine Successfully Reverse Type 1 Diabetes in Mice
Researchers believe the vaccine may be applicable to other autoimmune disease, such as RA and MS...
Wednesday Apr 07, 2010
Pfizer Predicts "Golden Age of Drug Discovery"
Pfizer is working on drugs to treat pain, inflammation, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease, some of which they predict will be mega sellers...
Friday Apr 02, 2010
Spotlight on Sjögren's Syndrome
As many as 4 million Americans are affected by the autoimmune disorder, but most suffer from symptoms for 3 or more years before receiving an accurate diagnosis...
Tuesday Mar 23, 2010
President Obama Signs Landmark Health Care Bill Into Law
The historic bill is the most sweeping social legislation to be enacted in decades, and will overhaul the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system...
Wednesday Mar 03, 2010
Patients Speak Out About the Pain of Fibromyalgia
Sometimes the best way to learn about a disease is to listen to the patients who suffer from it...
Wednesday Feb 10, 2010
FDA Wants to Reduce Radiation Exposure from Medical Scans
Widespread use of CT scans and fluoroscopy is exposing some patients to unnecessary amounts of radiation, and raising their risk of cancer...
Thursday Jan 28, 2010
Pain Pumps May Lead to Development of Chondrolysis
Hundreds of patients have developed the relatively rare ailment after the use of postsurgical pain pumps...
Thursday Nov 05, 2009
Feds Set to Cut 21.5% from Medicare Fees—Before Healthcare Reform
The new Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will, overall, cut physician's fees by 21.5% in 2010...
Wednesday Nov 04, 2009
Joan T. Merrill, MD, Answers Your Top Five Questions About Benlysta and Lupus
Benlysta™ (belimumab, formerly LymphoStat-B®) is poised to be the first new lupus drug approved in 50 years...
Wednesday Oct 28, 2009
Third RA Patient Has PML After Rituximab
The FDA's MedWatch warning system reports that a third rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient treated with Genentech's Rituxan (rituximab) has developed PML, this time without prior anti-TNF exposure...
Thursday Oct 22, 2009
For Early RA, Start with Six Months of MTX, then Add Two More DMARDs
ACR researchers report that initial treatment with methotrexate followed by step-up to two more DMARDs if needed at 6 months is as good as adding a TNF inhibitor...
Thursday Oct 15, 2009
To Scope or Not to Scope in Hip Patients Over 60
Hip arthroscopy may benefit some patients aged 60 and older with femoroacetebular impingement...
Wednesday Oct 14, 2009
Research Breakthrough: Common Retrovirus May Cause CFS
Two-thirds of chronic fatigue syndrome patients carry xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) in their blood...
Wednesday Oct 07, 2009
Can Surgical Masks Protect You From Flu? Maybe
Surgical masks are nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza in health care workers...
Tuesday Oct 06, 2009
Simponi Scores EU OK for RA, PsA, AS
Simponi (golimumab) anti-TNF is the first monthly anti-TNF injectable to gain broad EU approval...
Wednesday Sep 30, 2009
FDA Finally OKs Stelara for Psoriasis
The FDA has approved Centocor's Stelara (ustekinumab) for moderate to severe psoriasis...
Tuesday Sep 22, 2009
RA Gets Worse if Spouse is Depressed
Spousal depression can affect the health and functioning of a rheumatoid arthritis patient...
Thursday Sep 17, 2009
Lilly's Cymbalta Maintains Low Back Pain Relief
Data reported at a European pain meeting show that Cymbalta® (duloxetine) maintains relief of low back pain for 41 weeks...
Wednesday Sep 16, 2009
Thunder God Vine Trounces Sulfasalazine in RA
An extract of the traditional Chinese medicinal vine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) was better than sulfasalazine for treating rheumatoid arthritis...
Wednesday Aug 26, 2009
Virtual Reality: Fibromyalgia Affects Spatial Navigation
Virtual reality (VR) testing confirms what many fibromyalgia patients suspect: spatial learning deficits related to hippocampal dysfunction...
Tuesday Aug 25, 2009
First RCTs Cast Doubt on Vertebroplasty Gains
The first 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trials of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic fractures show no significant benefits for the procedure...
Thursday Aug 20, 2009
Animal Rights Thugs Target Novartis CEO
Animal rights extremists desecrated the graves of pharma exec Daniel Vasella's mother and sister and are now suspected of an arson attack on his house...
Thursday Aug 13, 2009
Docs Miss Details in Psoriasis Visits
In-office communication between psoriasis patients and clinicians needs improvement...
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009
Untreated Depression May Dim RA TNF Inhibitor Response
Persistent depression affects RA patients' response to anti-TNF treatment...
Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
Black Box Added to TNF Inhibitors for Kids, Teens
The FDA has expanded TNF blocker “black box” warnings to include lymphoma and other cancers in children and teens, leukemia in all patients, and new-onset psoriasis...
Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
Lupus with Leucopenia, Anemia Signals Risk of Leukemia
Lupus patients with persistent leucopenia or anemia may be at risk for myeloid leukemia...
Tuesday Aug 04, 2009
FDA Spikes Pegloticase Gout OK
Savient Pharmaceuticals' shares tanked on the FDA's refusal to approve Krystexxa™ for gout...
Monday Aug 03, 2009
R U Ready 4 Teens With Arthritis?
Teens with JIA are a challenge, and maintaining treatment response is likely to require different thinking by clinicians used to treating adults or children...
Thursday Jul 23, 2009
Gene Therapy Cleared in RA Patient Death
The vector used in an RA gene therapy study did not cause the death of a patient who died during the trial...
Thursday Jul 23, 2009
New Anti-TNF Adverse Effect: Sarcoid-like Granuloma
Sarcoid-like granulomas are a newly identified adverse effect associated with all types of TNF-blockade...
Thursday Jul 16, 2009
Array BioPharma Stops Work on ARRY-797 Pan-Cytokine Inhibitor for RA Despite Good Early Data
The pan-cytokine inhibitor ARRY-797 was safe at doses of up to 1,200 mg/day in a phase 1 dose-escalation study in RA patients, but will not be developed further for use in RA...
Monday Jul 13, 2009
I-A Clodronate, HA Try to Beat Placebo for Knee OA
Intra-articular clodronate is as good as hyaluronic acid for knee OA, but placebo might be as good as either...
Wednesday Jul 08, 2009
Seniors Reap Durable Gains from Knee Replacement
Four-year follow-up data show that patients 65 and older derive important, lasting benefits from total knee arthroplasty...
Tuesday Jun 30, 2009
Assessment of Bone Growth Stimulator Is Mixed
Bone-morphogenic protein (BMP) is being increasingly used in the US to stimulate the creation of new bone during spinal fusion surgery, despite higher costs and complication rates...
Friday Jun 26, 2009
Gum Disease Prominent in RA, but TNF-Blockade Can Help
Three new studies shed light on the connection between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis, and new data help define a role for TNF-blockade in improving periodontal status as well as RA signs and symptoms...
Tuesday Jun 23, 2009
MMF Effective, Safe for Proliferative as well as Membranous Lupus Nephritis
Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) may be as effective as, yet safer than, cyclophosphamide for the proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis...
Tuesday Jun 16, 2009
Infliximab Still Going Strong At 7 Years for RA Treatment
Infliximab efficacy and safety are maintained through at least 7 years of use for rheumatoid arthritis treatment...
Tuesday Jun 09, 2009
Medicare Part D “Tiering” May Reduce Access to RA Biologicals
The specialty tiering allowed in the Medicare Part D drug program is likely to impose a heavy financial burden on many RA patients who take—or should take—biologics...
Friday May 29, 2009
NIH Pops $24M into Orphan Diseases Research
NIH will put $24 million into a new program for developing drugs for rare and neglected diseases...
Thursday May 28, 2009
Primary Care Docs Still Pitching Bed Rest for Low Back Pain
Many primary care physicians are still recommending bed rest and other outdated approaches for low back pain...
Thursday May 28, 2009
Supreme Court to Hear Vioxx Case
The US Supreme Court will decide whether Merck should be protected from Vioxx shareholder suits...
Tuesday May 26, 2009
Little Science Behind Most Alternative Raynaud’s Remedies
Many patients with Raynaud's phenomenon try alternatives to conventional care, but a new analysis finds little data to support use of most such approaches...
Tuesday May 12, 2009
Obesity, Arthritis Blamed for Disability in Women
Females are at greater risk of obesity and arthritis than their male counterparts and these disabling conditions begin early and can rob women of their quality of life...
Thursday Apr 30, 2009
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement? Sometimes.
Minimally invasive knee arthroplasty may be appropriate for select patients when performed by an experienced surgeon...
Thursday Apr 23, 2009
Merck Inks Deal with Galapagos in Inflammatory Diseases
Merck and Galapagos have signed a multi-year agreement for discovery and development of new drugs for inflammatory disease...
Tuesday Apr 21, 2009
Lupus Damage at 10 Years Predicts Mortality
More than half of all lupus patients accrue damage within 10 years of their diagnosis, and these patients are at greater risk for death as a result...
Tuesday Apr 14, 2009
Golimumab Gets Canadian OK for RA, PsA, AS
Health Canada has approved Centocor's Simponi (golimumab) for treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and active ankylosing spondylitis (AS)...
Monday Apr 06, 2009
Gene May Explain Women's Heightened Lupus Risk
A gene on the X chromosome may be linked to lupus, explaining why women are much more likely to develop the disease than men...
Thursday Apr 02, 2009
Hurt Cartilage Harbors Potential OA Cure: Stem Cells
Harnessing the power of chondrogenic progenitor cells in diseased human cartilage may help researchers develop regenerative OA therapies...
Wednesday Apr 01, 2009
Analgesic Overdose Causes 21% of Deaths After Lumbar Fusions
Patients who had lumbar fusions for back pain were at greater risk of death in later years than those treated nonsurgically. The risk was particularly high in those who received instrumentation or intervertebral cage devices, and more than 1 in 5 deaths were due to analgesic overdose...
Tuesday Mar 31, 2009
As CT Radiation Accumulates, Cancer Risk May Rise
Cumulative radiation exposure from CT scans can raise cancer risk by up to 12%...
Monday Mar 23, 2009
JIA Gene Profile Study Shows “Remission” Is Not “Normal”
Gene profile data show that juvenile idiopathic arthritis remission is not a return to normal, but a balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory activity...
Tuesday Mar 17, 2009
New Laser for Psoriasis Aims to Cut Treatment
The excimer laser, best known for its use in eye surgery, is providing some patients with relief from their psoriasis...
Monday Mar 16, 2009
Chondrolysis Seen With Local Anesthetic After Shoulder Surgery
Local anesthetic infused into the shoulder joint after arthroscopy can destroy shoulder cartilage...
Thursday Mar 05, 2009
First Nonsurgical Dupuytren's Rx Likely to Be Auxilium's Xiaflex
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals is requesting expedited approval for Xiaflex™ (clostridial collagenase for injection), a nonsurgical treatment for Dupuytren's contracture...
Friday Feb 20, 2009
Pain Doctors Aim to Cut Opioid Abuse, Side Effects
A new guideline issued by the American Pain Society (APS) and the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) aims to reduce opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion, and to minimize side effects among patients taking opioids for with chronic non-cancer pain...
Thursday Feb 19, 2009
Raptiva® Pulled in EU After 3rd PML Case; FDA Warns US Docs
European regulators suspended sales of the psoriasis drug Raptiva® after a 3rd PML death, and the FDA warned US doctors of a 4th suspected case...
Tuesday Feb 17, 2009
Some TNF Inhibitors Raise Shingles Risk in RA. Time to Vaccinate?
Anti-TNF monoclonal antibody drugs (adalimumab, infliximab) significantly increase herpes zoster risk in RA patients, and vaccination should be considered. Etanercept was not associated with increased herpes zoster risk...
Thursday Feb 05, 2009
Low Back Pain Seldom Needs Surgery
Patients with discogenic low back pain can be advised to get out of bed, get some exercise, and assume that they will not need surgery...
Tuesday Feb 03, 2009
Lilly to Pursue OA Pain Indication for Cymbalta
Will OA join depression and fibromyalgia as Cymbalta indications?...
Thursday Jan 29, 2009
Bone Health in Men: Influencing Factors
According to the results of a bone health questionnaire, many men believe that they will not be affected by osteoporosis at all or as severely as women, and thus do not follow lifestyle recommendations to protect their bone mass…
Tuesday Jan 27, 2009
Bone Up on Depression, Osteoporosis Links
Depression and osteoporosis appear linked, perhaps by neuroendocrine dysfunction...
Monday Jan 26, 2009
4 Factors in Lupus Noncompliance
Lupus patients cite specific reasons for taking (or not taking) their meds. Changes in physician-patient communications might fix some of these problems...
Friday Jan 23, 2009
Shoulder Pain Imaging: Arthrography Not Always Needed
Arthrography adds important information to 3-T conventional MRI only in a subset of shoulder pain cases...
Tuesday Jan 13, 2009
Pilates Favorite: Multifidus Emerges As Key Muscle for Preventing Back Pain
The little multifidus muscle, beloved of Pilates exercise instructors but largely ignored in other settings, turns out to be key to spinal stability...
Monday Jan 12, 2009
Do FDA Statin Ad Rules Make Patients Fear Myopathy?
Statins cause no more muscle problems than placebo, so why do so many patients (and some physicians) worry?...
Tuesday Jan 06, 2009
Forget Knee OA Glucosamine, Orthotics—Lose Weight, AAOS Says
New knee arthritis guidelines from the premier American orthopaedics society say that glucosamine and/or chondroitin, custom-made shoe foot orthotics, and needle lavage are basically useless for the treatment of knee OA, but losing weight helps...
Friday Dec 12, 2008
Cartilage Repair Moving from Bench to Bedside
Mosiacplasty may soon be the method of choice for orthopaedic surgeons treating small focal defects in cartilage, but stem cell-based cartilage repair is also moving stealthily down the pike...
Tuesday Dec 02, 2008
Medicaid DXA Cuts Jeopardize Osteoporosis Care
If Medicaid reimbursement cuts for dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are not reversed, experts predict a surge in osteoporotic fractures that will raise costs far beyond the DXA cost savings...
Monday Dec 01, 2008
Bone Finding May Point to Hope for Osteoporosis
Serotonin formed in the gut, whose use has long been a mystery to researchers, may play a critical role in bone formation…
Monday Nov 24, 2008
Scleroderma Stem Cell Transplants Advance, Phase III Studies Recruiting Patients
Pilot data on systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients treated with autologous stem cell transplants suggest durable improvements in skin thickening and lung function. Phase III randomized trials are still open to enrollment...
Monday Nov 24, 2008
New OA Topicals Ease Pain, Protect Stomach
New topical NSAID formulations relieve OA pain without the GI problems associated with oral NSAIDs...
Thursday Nov 20, 2008
BioLineRx, Yissum Sign a Licensing Agreement for the Development of an Anti-Leptin Compound for the Treatment of IBD
BioLineRx signed an exclusive license agreement with Yissum Ltd to develop and commercialize BL-5040, an antagonist of leptin with anti-inflammatory properties for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)...
Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Phosphagenics’ Transdermal Diclofenac Enters Phase I Clinical Trial
The trial will compare the bioavailability and penetration of the topically applied Voltaren® gel (1% diclofenac sodium topical gel, Novartis), and Phosphagenics’ TPM/diclofenac (at 1% and 2% diclofenac concentrations) for the targeted delivery of the NSAID diclofenac...
Monday Nov 17, 2008
Vitamin D Levels Linked to OA Cartilage Loss, OA Pain, and SSc Disease Activity by ACR Researchers
Low vitamin D levels are associated with faster progression of joint damage, bone loss, and pain in OA and with higher levels of inflammatory markers and vascular complications in systemic sclerosis, suggesting that more attention to vitamin D supplements might be in order...
Thursday Nov 13, 2008
H. pylori Suspected in Oral Bisphosphonate Intolerance, SSc Stomach Problems
Helicobacter pylori infects nearly half of patients who cannot tolerate oral bisphosphonates and over 80% of systemic sclerosis patients. Treating H. pylori might reduce GI problems and increase treatment options in these and other rheumatoid conditions...
Wednesday Nov 12, 2008
Pegloticase Offers Hope to Patients With Worst Types of Gout
Pegloticase (Puricase®, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) performed well in two Phase III studies...
Wednesday Nov 12, 2008
Novartis’ ACZ885 Phase III Data Show Rapid, Sustained Clinical Remission in Children and Adults with CAPS, a Group of Rare, Potentially Life-Threatening Autoinflammatory Diseases
Novartis also announced that preliminary results of a phase I/II study in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis showed that most patients treated with ACZ885 achieved substantial clinical improvement within 15 days...
Friday Nov 07, 2008
Studies Confirm, Extend Uses of MRI in Spondyloarthropathies
Severe romanus lesions in patients with back pain who are younger than 51 are very specific for spondyloarthropathy, and an MRI of just the sacroiliac joint is generally enough to diagnose nonradiographic axial SpA, regardless of the location of the back pain...
Wednesday Nov 05, 2008
Study Establishes Safety of Long-Term Juvenile Arthritis Treatments
Three-year data reported at ACR show that long-term etanercept, with or without MTX, is safe and effective in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis...
Thursday Oct 30, 2008
Merck, Japan Tobacco in Osteoporosis Drug Deal
Merck and Japan Tobacco announced a worldwide licensing agreement to develop and commercialize JTT-305, an investigational oral osteoanabolic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis...
Thursday Oct 23, 2008
Tamoxifen Cuts Fracture Risk
The breast cancer drug tamoxifen has been found to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures, but the protection against fractures diminshes after treatment with the drug ends…
Wednesday Oct 22, 2008
Biogen Idec Reports Top-Line Results From Phase II Clinical Trial of Baminercept in RA; Will Discontinue Development in RA
The phase II trial of baminercept in RA patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug did not meet its primary endpoint...
Tuesday Oct 21, 2008
Cutting Better Than Splinting for Carpal Tunnel Pain, Numbness, Weakness
A Cochrane review concludes that surgery is better than splinting for relieving the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and that a head-to-head comparison of surgery versus steroid injections is needed...
Wednesday Oct 15, 2008
Genentech Issues Dear Healthcare Provider Letter Regarding Case of PML in a Psoriasis Patient Under Long-Term Treatment With Raptiva®
The 70-year old patient had received Raptiva® (efalizumab) for >4 years to treat chronic plaque psoriasis before being diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy...
Wednesday Oct 08, 2008
Incyte's Topical JAK Inhibitor Shows Positive Proof-of-Concept Results in Two Phase IIa Clinical Trials in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Psoriasis; Phase IIb Expected to Start October 2008
Results from the first study demonstrated that INCB18424 was well tolerated at all doses and significantly improved overall total lesion score (erythema + scaling + thickness)...
Tuesday Sep 30, 2008
Microscopic Version of the CT Scan Reveals Secrets of Bone Formation
A new version of the CT scan offers insight on how bones, shells, and other animal structures are formed, which may give researchers a better understanding of bone loss and how to combat it…
Monday Sep 29, 2008
Abbott Reports Continuous Treatment With Humira® Achieves Superior Long-Term Efficacy for Psoriasis Patients in the US and Europe Versus Interrupting Treatment
The findings were from the company's pivotal 52-week REVEAL study and the period of open-label treatment that followed...
Thursday Sep 25, 2008
Centocor’s Ustekinumab Demonstrates Superior Efficacy to Enbrel® (Etanercept) in Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Greater proportion of patients receiving ustekinumab achieved significant skin clearance versus patients receiving Enbrel...
Friday Sep 19, 2008
Axial Biotech Initiates Clinical Field Test for ScoliScore™ AIS Prognostic Test
The ScoliScore™ AIS Prognostic Test can determine whether a child has a mild or more severe likelihood of curve progression, at the first presentation of symptoms...
Thursday Sep 18, 2008
GSK, Cellzome Announce Strategic Alliance to Identify Kinase-Targeted Drugs for Inflammatory Diseases
The alliance gives GSK access to Cellzome’s expertise in identifying and developing selective kinase inhibitors and its proprietary Kinobeads™ technology which, by screening compounds in a physiological setting, is designed to improve the predictability of these drug candidates’ performance in clinical testing...
Friday Sep 12, 2008
Breaking News: FDA Warns About Fatal PML in RA Patient Taking Rituxan®
FDA issued a MedWatch warning reporting the first fatal PML case in a patient taking Rituxan for RA...
Tuesday Sep 09, 2008
FDA Posts List of Potential Problem Drugs
The FDA has posted a list of prescription drugs that are under investigation for potential safety problems…
Monday Sep 08, 2008
FDA Warns of Histoplasmosis, Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients Taking TNF Inhibitors
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a “MedWatch” warning about the risk of histoplasmosis and other invasive fungal infections in patients taking TNF blockers...
Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Omeros Enters Into Agreement With Affitech for Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics, Awaits Phase III Clinical Trial Results for Agent
Omeros Corp and Affitech AS have entered into an agreement for the discovery and development of fully human antibodies for Omeros’ MASP-2, which mediates activation of the complement system via the lectin pathway...
Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Scientists Discover How Osteoarthritis Destroys Cartilage
New discovery may lead to preventive treatment for osteoarthritis…
Tuesday Sep 02, 2008
Success Rate Rising of Transplants Using Donor Tissues
Despite hurdles such as high costs and the dangers of immunosuppression following surgery, composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) is becoming a more popular procedure…
Thursday Aug 28, 2008
Mesoblast Reports Preclinical Study Shows Allogeneic Stem Cells in Ewes are Safe, Effective for Cervical Spine Fusion; Therapy May Receive Boost From US FDA’s Recent Alert of Life-Threatening Complications Associated With rhBMP in Cervical Spine Fusions
Mesoblast is currently in phase II clinical trials for fusion of the lumbar spine and, based on these new results, will extend its market opportunity to cover the entire spectrum of spinal fusion. Subject to FDA approval, Mesoblast's therapy will eliminate the need for autograft...
Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Pivotal Humira Trial Shows Durable Benefit in Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
The pivotal trial of adalimumab (Humira®) shows durable, safe efficacy for up to 2 years for children with polyarticular JRA and positions the TNF-inhibitor as the reasonable second-line drug to add if methotrexate does not provide sufficient disease control...
Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Researchers Home in On Role of TNF in RA Bone Destruction
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) decreases osteoblast numbers via an enzyme called Smad Ubiquitin Regulatory Factor 1 (SMURF1), which shuts down two proteins that would otherwise drive bone formation…
Tuesday Aug 26, 2008
Review Discourages Use of Amitriptyline in Fibromyalgia, but May Not Be the Last Word
A review of studies of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (Elavil) for fibromyalgia was generally discouraging, but questions have been raised about the quality of studies included…
Monday Aug 25, 2008
Annals of Internal Medicine Study Says Merck ADVANTAGE Trial Was Marketing Dressed Up as Science
New findings based on internal Merck records disclosed during litigation show that ADVANTAGE (Assessment of Differences between Vioxx and Naproxen To Ascertain Gastrointestinal Tolerability and Effectiveness) was actually a seeding trial designed to support a marketing campaign before Vioxx’s launch…
Thursday Aug 21, 2008
Wrinkle Removers, Backed by Science
Scientific evidence has emerged that three anti-aging treatments are clinically effective: topical application of retinol, carbon dioxide resurfacing, and injection of hyaluronic acid…
Tuesday Aug 19, 2008
Centocor Says US FDA Extends Review by 3 Months for Ustekinumab’s (CNTO 1275) Biologic License Application to Treat Plaque Psoriasis
Centocor filed an application with the FDA for ustekinumab in late 2007 seeking approval to market the drug to treat adult patients with chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis...
Monday Aug 18, 2008
MedImmune, Medarex Report Initiation of Phase IIa Clinical Trial of Fully Human Anti-Interferonα Monoclonal Antibody in Lupus Patients
MedImmune has initiated enrollment in a phase IIa trial with a human monoclonal antibody (MEDI-545) targeting interferonα in adult patients with moderate-to-severe active lupus...
Wednesday Aug 13, 2008
Tolerx Reports Collaboration Partner, Genentech, has Advanced a Modified Humanized Nondepleting Anti-CD4 Monoclonal Antibody Into Phase I Clinical Trial in RA Patients
The Tolerx and Genentech collaboration has moved a modified version of TRX1 (MTRX1011A), an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody, into a phase I clinical trial that has begun enrolling RA patients...
Thursday Aug 07, 2008
Heart Risks Rise With Revision or Bilateral Joint Arthroplasty
Patients who undergo revision or bilateral joint arthroplasty are at significantly higher increased risk for heart attack or heart failure than patients who undergo their first replacement of a single knee or hip…
Wednesday Aug 06, 2008
NeoStrata Reports Novel Nonprescription Coal Tar Solution Provides Significant Benefits Versus Calcipotriol for Moderate Psoriasis
Findings from an ongoing 12-week study demonstrate benefits of a novel, nonprescription topically applied LCD (coal tar) solution (Psorent™) versus calcipotriol cream (Dovonex®) in treatment of moderate plaque psoriasis...
Tuesday Jul 29, 2008
CEL-SCI Announces Positive Preclinical Results Using CEL-2000, a Chimeric Peptide with Bi-Functional Properties, as RA Vaccine
CEL-SCI Corp announced the discovery of CEL-2000, a novel peptide vaccine for the treatment of RA. Tests showed that CEL-2000 is equivalent or possibly superior to Enbrel® in slowing disease progression and lessening symptoms in mice...
Friday Jul 25, 2008
New High-Resolution Device Aids Finger MRI in Scleroderma
High-resolution magnetic resonance angiography (micro-MRA) can readily measure vascular disease of fingers in systemic sclerosis…
Thursday Jul 24, 2008
Lupus No Longer Seen As Complete Contraindication to Oral Contraceptive Use
Oral contraceptives, long considered a risk for women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are now often considered for women with inactive or stable SLE…
Tuesday Jul 22, 2008
Compugen Reports Positive Preclinical Results for Therapeutic Peptide Candidate for Immune Related Diseases
The gp96 protein triggers both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system and is thought to play a key role in inflammatory responses, making it an important target for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of immune-related disorders...
Tuesday Jul 22, 2008
Ardea Biosciences Advances RDEA806 Into Phase IIa Proof-of-Concept Study for Gout
Ardea Biosciences has received regulatory approval to begin a phase IIa proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating RDEA806 in gout patients with hyperuricemia...
Friday Jul 18, 2008
Even Really Old Joints Benefit From Replacement in Osteoarthritis
Patients ≥75 do as well as those 65 to 74 after joint replacement for severe hip or knee OA...
Friday Jul 11, 2008
MediGene Puts Phase I Trial Hold on Due to Patient Death in Study of RhuDex® in a New Formulation; Reports Positive Results With RhuDex in Phase IIa Pilot Trial in RA
One study participant suffered a heart problem some days after a scheduled treatment of RhuDex®, an orally administered candidate for the treatment of RA; it is currently unclear whether there is any correlation between the death and the drug administration...
Thursday Jul 10, 2008
A List of Drugs That Increase Falling Risk
Many common prescription seizure medications, painkillers, and antidepressants may elevate the risk of falling among older patients...
Wednesday Jul 09, 2008
Lasting Leukemia Risk for AS Patients Treated With Now Banned 224Radium (SpondylAT®)
AS patients who were treated with repeated intravenous injections of 224Radium (SpondylAT®) are at increased risk for developing leukemia…
Tuesday Jul 08, 2008
Return to Sport After Hip Resurfacing or Total Hip Arthroplasty
Patients are able to engage in more intense sports activities after undergoing hip resurfacing than after total hip arthroplasty…
Monday Jul 07, 2008
Three Studies Support Rivaroxaban Over Heparin-Based Treatment to Prevent VTE After Joint Replacement
Three studies show that selective factor Xa inhibition with rivaroxaban trumps heparin-based thromboprophylaxis for reducing venous thromboembolism after total hip and total knee arthroplasty…
Monday Jul 07, 2008
UCB’s Cimzia® Filed With EMEA for Treatment of RA: if Approved, Would be First and Only PEGylated, Fc-Free Anti-TNFα Biologic
UCB has submitted an MMA for approval of Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) as a subcutaneous treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis...
Thursday Jul 03, 2008
Centocor Requests Approval From FDA of Golimumab for the Treatment of RA, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Centocor submitted a Biologics License Application to the US FDA requesting the approval of golimumab, a human anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody, as a monthly subcutaneous treatment for adults with active forms of RA, PsA, and AS...
Thursday Jul 03, 2008
Small Protein May Have Big Role In Making More Bone And Less Fat
The protein GILZ may be the key to developing therapies to fight both obesity and osteoporosis…
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Nearly Half of Undifferentiated Arthritis Patients Can Achieve Drug-Free Remission After 1 Year of MTX
The chance of achieving drug-free arthritis remission after 1 year of MTX therapy is 46% and is predicted by a negative ACPA status, no or low radiographic damage at baseline, increased age, and shorter disease duration…
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Treatment Adherence in Patients with RA and SLE
Many RA and SLE patients report problems with treatment adherence; race, education, and treatment side effects are the most influential factors on adherence…
Wednesday Jun 18, 2008
ChemoCentryx Completes Enrollment of Phase II/III Clinical Trial of CCR9 Antagonist CCX282-B (Traficet-EN™) in Crohn's; Reports Advancing Second-Generation CCR9 Drug
The trial comprises three discrete phases to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Traficet-EN in inducing a clinical response or remission, as well as maintaining response/remission in Crohn's disease over 12 months...
Monday Jun 16, 2008
Belimumab is Back: New Criteria Show Activity in SLE
The humanized monoclonal antibody belimumab showed significant activity in the extension of a phase II clinical trial for SLE as measured by new, FDA-approved assessment criteria...
Monday Jun 16, 2008
Phase III Data Show Golimumab Efficacy in MTX-Resistant, TNF-Pretreated, Untreated RA
Data from the phase III GO-FORWARD and GO-BEFORE studies show that subcutaneous golimumab improves symptoms, function in RA patients after MTX, anti-TNF failure...
Thursday Jun 12, 2008
Step-Up, Tight Control Abates Early RA in 50% of Patients by 36 Weeks
As many as half of all early rheumatoid arthritis patients may achieve remission within 36 weeks following step-up therapy coupled with tight control...
Wednesday Jun 11, 2008
How to Tell If an RA Patient is Likely to Achieve DMARD-Free Remission Without Biologics
A number of factors identify rheumatoid arthritis patients whose disease is likely to respond to conventional DMARD treatment with sustained, drug-free remission...
Tuesday Jun 10, 2008
B-Cell Subset May Identify RA Patients at Risk for Relapse After Rituximab
A memory B-cell subset that could be readily monitored from peripheral blood samples might help identify RA patients who need early re-treatment with rituximab to prevent RA relapse...
Friday May 23, 2008
Iatrogenic Problems Reported in Low Back Pain, Osteoporosis Patients at AACE Meeting
Cases of iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome (CS) from intra-articular triamcinolone and iatrogenic hypercalcemia from combined teriparatide-hydrochlorothiazide were reported at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 2008 meeting...
Thursday May 22, 2008
Bone Pain Can Be a Sign of Myeloma
Patients who report bone pain should be checked for myeloma, a treatable form of bone marrow cancer
Monday May 19, 2008
ChemoCentryx Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of CCR1 Inhibitor CCX354 for Inflammatory Disease; Milestone Triggers $10 Million Payment From Partner GSK
ChemoCentryx announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial of CCX354, an orally-available, novel small molecule compound designed to specifically target the CCR1 chemokine receptor associated with inflammatory diseases...
Friday May 16, 2008
Centocor Alerts Authorized Distributors and Prescribing Physicians About Stolen Infliximab (Remicade®)
A transport trailer carrying infliximab (Remicade®) was stolen en route to a specialty distributor on May 6, 2008...
Wednesday May 14, 2008
8-Year Data Confirm Etanercept Safety, Efficacy in Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Long-term open-label data show that etanercept (Enbrel®) is safe and effective over 8 years of continuous treatment of children with JRA...
Monday May 12, 2008
Rituximab OK Following Anti-TNF-Associated TB
Rituximab is both safe and effective in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have had active TB while being treated with a TNF-α inhibitor...
Monday May 12, 2008
Nuon Raises $27 Million to Advance Tranilast Through Phase II Clinical Trials for Autoimmune Diseases
Nuon completed a $27 million series B financing to advance tranilast, its orally available, small-molecule lead compound...
Tuesday May 06, 2008
Lexicon's RA Drug Candidate LX2931, Targeting S1P Lyase, Shows Positive Results in Phase 1a Clinical Trial; Dose-Dependent, Rapid-Onset Decrease in Circulating Lymphocytes Observed
Positive results were obtained from Lexicon's phase 1a clinical trial of LX2931, an orally-delivered, small molecule targeting sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase for the treatment of RA and other autoimmune conditions...
Tuesday May 06, 2008
Rigel's R788 (fostamatinib disodium) Slows Progression, Prolongs Survival in Murine Lupus Model; Phase II Lupus Clinical Trial Planned Later in 2008
Rigel's lead agent, R788 (fostamatinib disodium), an orally bioavailable spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has successfully treated lupus-prone mice and significantly improved their survival...
Tuesday May 06, 2008
FDA Adds “Black Box” Warning About Infections to Enbrel Label
FDA has heightened warnings on the prescribing information for etanercept with regard to serious infections and has warned clinicians to screen patients for latent TB before beginning treatment...
Friday May 02, 2008
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Passes Congress, Heads for White House
Both houses of Congress have passed legislation that bans discrimination in employment, insurance, and other areas based on an individual’s genetic makeup, and the bill is expected to be quickly signed into law by President George W. Bush...
Thursday May 01, 2008
Genentech, Biogen Idec Report Phase II/III Trial of Rituxan® Fails to Meet Primary or Secondary Endpoints in Lupus
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II/III study of Rituxan® (rituximab) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) did not meet its primary endpoint or any of the six secondary endpoints...
Thursday Apr 24, 2008
UCB’s Cimzia® Approved in the US for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Crohn's Disease; Dosed Subcutaneously Every 4 Weeks
The US FDA has approved Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol), indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderate-to-severe active disease who have an inadequate response to conventional therapy...
Wednesday Apr 23, 2008
GSK, Regulus Form Alliance to Develop microRNA-Targeted Therapeutics to Treat RA and IBD; Deal Potentially Valued at Over $600 Million
GlaxoSmithKline and Regulus Therapeutics LLC announced a worldwide strategic alliance to discover, develop, and market novel microRNA(miRNA)-targeted therapeutics to treat inflammatory diseases such as RA and inflammatory bowel disease...
Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
New Psoriasis Pill Appears Effective
An oral dose of ISA247, a calcineurin inhibitor, shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis…
Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
Neurochem to Advance Eprodisate (Kiacta™) in Second Phase III Trial for Amyloid A; Marketing Applications Withdrawn in US, EU, and Switzerland
Neurochem (International) Ltd announced that it intends to initiate a second phase III clinical for eprodisate (Kiacta™) to obtain market approval for the treatment of amyloid A (AA) because amyloidosis is a life-threatening disease for which there is no specific treatment...
Tuesday Apr 15, 2008
Pain-Fatigue Link May Explain Why FM, CFS Are More Prevalent in Women
A biological link between pain and fatigue may help explain why more women than men are diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome...
Tuesday Apr 15, 2008
Granuloma Annulare Induced by Antitumor Necrosis Factor Therapy
Researchers found evidence of a link between TNF inhibition and the development of granuloma annulare skin lesions in some patients…
Tuesday Apr 15, 2008
JAMA Blasts Vioxx Ghostwriters, Guest Authors, and Mortality Reporting
Documents obtained during Vioxx lawsuits against Merck provide a “case-study review of industry documents” showing that most clinical trial manuscripts and review articles were written by sponsor employees with noncompany authors brought in later to disguise the work, to misleadingly report mortality data to the FDA, and to keep data from some IRBs, JAMA authors charged...
Monday Apr 14, 2008
Twin Spine Study Shows Genes, Not Injuries Cause Most Disc Problems
Researchers with the Twin Spine Study show that most degenerative back problems are linked to genes, not to aging, injuries, lifting, or driving. They also identified several genes involved...
Friday Apr 11, 2008
FDA Warns of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy With CellCept
FDA informed healthcare professionals that it is investigating a potential association between the use of mycophenolate mofetil and development of PML...
Tuesday Apr 08, 2008
Does Physical Therapy Still Have a Place in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Researchers believe that pharmacological advancements in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis do not replace traditional physical therapy programs…
Monday Apr 07, 2008
Radius Fills Enrollment of Phase II Trial of BA058 for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women; Milestone Triggers $28.3 Million Financing
Radius Health, Inc announced the completion of patient enrollment in its phase II clinical trial of BA058, an analog of hPTHrP (human parathyroid hormone-related protein)...
Thursday Mar 27, 2008
Pfizer Fails to Gain Access to JAMA, Arch Int Med Peer Review Documents, NEJM Still Pending
A US federal judge in Illinois has quashed Pfizer’s attempt to access confidential peer review documents from JAMA and Archives of Internal Medicine related to studies of Bextra® and Celebrex®...
Thursday Mar 20, 2008
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Completes Enrollment in a Phase II Study of MM-093, Recombinant AFP, in Patients With RA
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc's phase II trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MM-093, a nonglycosylated, recombinant version of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has completed enrollment...
Wednesday Mar 19, 2008
Centocor, Schering-Plough Submit Marketing Authorization Application Requesting EU Approval of Golimumab to Treat RA, PsA, AS
Centocor, Inc and Schering-Plough Corp are seeking EU approval of golimumab, which targets and neutralizes both the soluble and membrane-bound forms of TNFα, to treat RA, PsA, and AS...
Wednesday Mar 12, 2008
Radial Shock Wave Therapy Relieves Heel Pain, but Cartilage Safety From Procedure is Questioned at AAOS
Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) looks promising for relieving chronic heel pain, but animal studies have raised questions about the cartilage safety from the procedure...
Tuesday Mar 04, 2008
Karo Bio AB, Zydus Cadila to Develop Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulators to Treat Inflammatory Diseases; Karo Reacquires Rights to SARMs From Radius
Karo Bio AB and Zydus Cadila announced a 3-year research collaboration to discover and develop novel, selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) modulators for the treatment of inflammatory diseases...
Thursday Feb 28, 2008
Tysabri May Cause Liver Damage, Health Officials Say
Tysabri, the MS drug recently approved for treatment of Crohn’s disease, can cause liver damage in as few as 6 days…
Thursday Feb 28, 2008
Acceleron, Celgene to Collaborate on Anabolic Bone Agent ACE-011, a Decoy Activin Receptor, for Cancer-Related Bone Loss
Acceleron Pharma and Celgene Corp announced a worldwide strategic collaboration for the development and commercialization of ACE-011, a novel bone-forming compound for the treatment of cancer-related bone loss...
Friday Feb 22, 2008
EUSA Out-Licenses Preclinical Stage Human Anti-IL-6 Antibody to GSK for up to $44 Million Plus Royalties
EUSA Pharma Inc announced that it has out-licensed the exclusive worldwide rights to its preclinical-stage human anti-interleukin (IL)-6 antibody (OP-R003) to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)...
Thursday Feb 21, 2008
Pharmacopeia Advances Chemokine Receptor Antagonist Into Preclinical Development for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disease Indications
Pharmacopeia Inc announced the advancement of PS031291, a potent and highly selective oral antagonist at the chemokine receptor CCR1, as a preclinical development compound from its internal CCR1 discovery program...
Tuesday Feb 19, 2008
Duloxetine, Milnacipran Studies in Fibromyalgia Reported
Duloxetine (Lilly's Cymbalta®) and milnacipran (Cypress Bioscience's Ixel®) studies report promising but mixed results...
Friday Feb 08, 2008
TNF Inhibitors, Efalizumab, Alefacept Herald New Era in Psoriasis Treatment
New treatment strategies that include TNF-α inhibitors, efalizumab, and alefacept offer better psoriasis control with less toxicity, but still need to be compared with traditional agents in clinical trials...
Tuesday Feb 05, 2008
Centocor Announces Ustekinumab (CNTO 1275) Biologics License Application Accepted by US FDA for the Treatment of Psoriasis
Centocor, Inc announced that the Biologics License Application for ustekinumab (CNTO 1275), a fully-human monoclonal antibody targeting the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, has been accepted for review by the US FDA for the treatment of chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults...
Tuesday Feb 05, 2008
Cochrane Reviewers Find Little Evidence That Antidepressants Help Chronic Low Back Pain
A Cochrane Review found little evidence to support the common practice of prescribing antidepressants for patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain...
Tuesday Feb 05, 2008
Inverse Relationship Between Vertebral Fractures and Spine Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis
Disc space narrowing decreases the incidence of vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis...
Thursday Jan 31, 2008
Financial Ties Are Cited as Issue in Spine Study
Many of the spine surgeons who hailed the Prodisc® as a medical breakthrough had a financial interest in the new product…
Monday Jan 28, 2008
Tolerx Achieves Milestone With Completion of Phase Ib Study of TRX1, a Humanized Nondepleting Anti-CD4 Monoclonal Antibody, in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Tolerx, Inc announced the successful completion of a phase Ib clinical study of TRX1, a humanized anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody, in subjects with refractory cutaneous lupus erythematosus...
Monday Jan 28, 2008
Genentech, Biogen Idec, Roche Report Rituxan® (rituximab, MabThera®) Phase III Trial Meets Study Endpoints in RA; Use as First-Line Biologic Therapy Improves Symptoms
Genentech, Inc, Biogen Idec, and Roche Pharmaceuticals announced that a pivotal phase III study of rituximab (Rituxan®) met its primary endpoint of greater proportion of biologic-naïve RA patients achieving ACR20 response at week 24, compared with placebo...
Thursday Jan 24, 2008
TNFα Inhibitors Can Be Used Again After Treatment of TB Flare
TNFα inhibitors can be safely readministered after either a flare of latent TB or a new TB infection and should be considered an option in patients with otherwise uncontrollable RA...
Tuesday Jan 22, 2008
Four Research Groups Report New Lupus Genes
A major international collaborative that includes European and North American lupus researchers, government agencies, research foundations, and industry has discovered four new lupus-related genes and may increase interest in the B-cell-receptor signaling pathway and in inflammatory cell adhesion as potential therapeutic targets...
Tuesday Jan 22, 2008
Dermal Mucin in Alopecia Areata - Tell Tale Sign or Incidental Finding?
Dermal deposition of mucin may serve as a clue for diagnosing lupus in alopecia patients…
Thursday Jan 17, 2008
Elan, Biogen Idec Gain US FDA Approval of Tysabri® for Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Crohn's Disease
Elan Corp, plc and Biogen Idec announced the approval of a supplemental Biologics License Application for Tysabri® (natalizumab) for inducing and maintaining clinical response and remission in adult patients with active moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease...
Wednesday Jan 16, 2008
Incyte Reports INCB18424, a Selective JAK2 Inhibitor, Shows Initial Positive Clinical Activity With Rapid Onset of Action in RA and Psoriasis
Incyte Corp announced positive clinical proof-of-concept results with its wholly-owned, internally developed, lead JAK2 (Janus-associated kinase 2) inhibitor, INCB18424, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis...
Friday Jan 11, 2008
aRigel Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of JAK3 Inhibitor R348 for RA, Psoriasis, and Other Immune Disorders
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that it has initiated the enrollment of patients in a phase I clinical study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of R348, an orally bioavailable, potent (<100 nM) and selective inhibitor of Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) as a potential treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other immune disorders...
Wednesday Jan 09, 2008
Personalized Exercise Prescriptions Warranted in RA
Individually-tailored exercise programs taking a patient's specific needs and abilities into account should become a standard part of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Such programs can help reverse joint damage and reduce cardiovascular risk factors in this population...
Tuesday Jan 08, 2008
FDA Warns of Severe Bone, Joint, Muscle Pain Linked to Bisphosphonates
FDA warning highlights "severe and sometimes incapacitating" musculoskeletal pain in patients taking bisphosphonates...
Tuesday Jan 08, 2008
Pain Relief for Some, With an Odd Tradeoff
A new device implanted near the spine offers relief for some chronic pain sufferers...
Thursday Jan 03, 2008
Practice Tips: Using Color or Power Doppler Ultrasound in Rheumatology
Danish researchers have proposed settings for Doppler ultrasound (US) designed to improve detection of inflammation, visualized as hyperemia in locations such as the synovial membrane...
Thursday Jan 03, 2008
Step-Down Therapy With Steroids is Feasible and Effective in Early RA
Step-down therapy for early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) including oral prednisolone is not just feasible in daily practice, it is also more effective than a step-up regimen...
Wednesday Jan 02, 2008
Experts Question Use of TNF Blockers for Sciatica Caused by Disc Herniation
The jury is still out on whether TNF-blockers have a role in treating sciatica induced by disc herniation...
Friday Dec 21, 2007
Galapagos to Collaborate With Lilly in OA and to Receive Milestone Payment of €7.5 Million in OA Alliance with GSK
Galapagos NV, an integrated drug discovery company with preclinical programs in bone and joint diseases, announced that it has entered into a global collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Co to develop a novel class of medicines with potential to stimulate bone formation for the treatment of osteoarthritis...
Thursday Dec 20, 2007
New EULAR Recommendations on Systemic Glucocorticoids Stress Monitoring for Adverse Events
EULAR has issued new evidence-based recommendations on the management of systemic glucocorticoid therapy in rheumatic diseases...
Friday Dec 14, 2007
New Kid on the Block: Everolimus Looks Promising as Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
A "proof-of-concept" study shows that the immunosuppressant everolimus may be an effective addition to MTX for rheumatoid arthritis patients whose disease is only partly MTX-responsive...
Thursday Dec 13, 2007
MRI Bone Edema Shows Differences, Similarities in RA and OA
MRI bone edema predicts radiographic progression in RA and correlates with pain in OA...
Tuesday Dec 11, 2007
Identification of Two New Ankylosing Spondylitis Genes Suggest Novel Therapeutic Targets
Genome scans have identified two of the suspected handful of non-MHC genes that appear to collaborate with HLA-B27 in "turning on" disease processes that result in ankylosing spondylitis and other seronegative arthropathies...
Thursday Dec 06, 2007
Medarex Announces Acceptance by US FDA of IND Application for Wholly-Owned Fully Human Anti-CD19 Antibody, MDX-1342, for Phase I Clinical Study for RA
Medarex, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of fully human antibody-based therapeutics, announced the allowance of an investigational new drug application filed with the US FDA for MDX-1342 for rheumatoid arthritis...
Friday Nov 30, 2007
Drug Update: Abatacept
Researchers continue to argue for the cost-effectiveness of abatacept in treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis, but a real-world analysis raises questions about responses in routine clinical use. Safety data show no increased risk of malignancies or infection...
Wednesday Nov 28, 2007
Update on Joint Replacement
Total joint replacement has reduced pain and disability in elderly patients with arthritis. The procedure is cost-effective even for high-risk patients, but it is associated with higher risk for cardiac complications if both joints are replaced during the same procedure, and it might be chosen by more African-American patients if finances were less of an issue...
Wednesday Nov 28, 2007
MedImmune Initiates First Phase I Trial of an Anti-GM-CSFR Monoclonal Antibody in Patients With RA
MedImmune, Inc announced that dosing of patients has begun in the first phase I clinical trial of CAM-3001, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the alpha subunit of the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor. The study is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single doses of CAM-3001 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis...
Tuesday Nov 27, 2007
Elan, Biogen Idec Report that CHMP Adopts Negative Opinion on Appeal of EU Application for Natalizumab (Tysabri®) to Treat Crohn's
Elan Corp, plc and Biogen Idec announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a negative opinion on the marketing authorization for natalizumab (Tysabri®) as a treatment for moderate-to-severe, active Crohn's disease (CD) in patients who had an inadequate response to or could not take conventional treatments and who have evidence of active inflammation...
Monday Nov 26, 2007
Teriparatide Builds More Bone Than Alendronate in Steroid-Caused Osteoporosis
Teriparatide built more bone mass and prevented more vertebral fractures than alendronate in the first head-to-head study of the two drugs for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis...
Monday Nov 26, 2007
Abatacept Wins Plaudits in Refractory JIA
The costimulation blocker abatacept may be a safe and effective option for juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients who have exhausted all other therapies...
Tuesday Nov 20, 2007
Novartis Says Health Regulators in UK and Germany Suspend Marketing and Sale of Prexige® Pending Outcome of European Regulatory Review
Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG announced that health regulators in the UK and Germany have suspended the marketing and sale of Prexige® (lumiracoxib), a COX-2 inhibitor for patients with osteoarthritic pain, following a review of the drug's benefit/risk profile...
Friday Nov 16, 2007
Certolizumab Induces Faster Responses in RA
Thirty percent of RA patients treated with certolizumab plus MTX reached ACR20 within the first week of treatment; 50% reached ACR20 within 2 weeks...
Wednesday Nov 14, 2007
New Topical Nitroglycerin for Raynaud's Phenomenon Reported at ACR
A new topical formulation of nitroglycerine that is not absorbed systemically significantly reduced symptoms in over 40% of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon...
Tuesday Nov 13, 2007
Anti-IL-12/23 Monoclonal Produces Dramatic Results in Psoriatic Arthritis
The anti-IL-12/23 monoclonal antibody ustekinumab produced dramatic, durable improvements in psoriatic arthritis, according to phase II data reported at the American College of Rheumatology...
Tuesday Nov 13, 2007
Infliximab Adds Little to Combined DMARDs for Early RA--Unless You're Fat
Obesity halves an RA patient's chance of remission with conventional combination DMARD treatment, but adding infliximab can overcome this problem...
Monday Nov 12, 2007
Rheumatologists Optimistic About IL-6 Blocker Tocilizumab
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) blocker tocilizumab is safe, effective, and improves quality of life for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients...
Monday Nov 12, 2007
Biogen Idec's Baminercept, the First Lymphotoxin-β Pathway Inhibitor in Development, Shows Promise in Phase IIa Trial in RA Patients; Phase IIb Underway
Biogen Idec announced results from its phase IIa trial of baminercept, the first dual-mechanism, lymphotoxin-β (LT-β) and LIGHT pathway inhibitor in development for the treatment of autoimmune diseases...
Friday Nov 09, 2007
Efalizumab Suspected of Triggering Arthritis in Subset of Psoriasis Patients
A small subset of patients treated with efalizumab for severe plaque psoriasis developed new-onset psoriatic arthritis...
Thursday Nov 08, 2007
Centocor, Schering-Plough's Anti-TNF Golimumab Significantly Reduced Signs and Symptoms of AS in Phase III Study; Monthly Treatment Yielded Marked Improvements in Physical Function
Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced that more than half of patients receiving monthly subcutaneous injections of golimumab 50 mg and 100 mg experienced significant and sustained improvements in the signs and symptoms of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to the phase III study (GO-RAISE trial) results...
Friday Nov 02, 2007
Strontium Ranelate May Slow Osteoarthritis Progression
The osteoporosis drug strontium ranelate (Protelos®) may stop or slow the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and also might alleviate back pain...
Thursday Nov 01, 2007
Few Remissions From Switching to Other DMARDs After MTX Failure
If initial MTX fails to produce remission in RA, adding or switching to other conventional DMARDs is also unlikely to produce remissions...
Wednesday Oct 31, 2007
Coley Initiates Phase I Study of First-in-Class TLR Antagonist, CPG 52364, for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Inc, an international biopharmaceutical company having a pipeline of Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) therapeutic product candidates, announced that it has dosed its first subject in a phase I study of its novel, orally-available TLR Therapeutic drug candidate for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)...
Thursday Oct 25, 2007
Prostate Cancer Doubles Fracture Risk
Men with prostate cancer treated with orchidectomy or androgen deprivation are at increased risk for fractures, particularly of the hip, and should have bone density evaluated regularly...
Thursday Oct 25, 2007
Galápagos, Janssen Form Global Alliance to Develop Oral Small Molecule Therapeutics for Multiple Targets in RA
Galápagos NV, a drug discovery company with clinical and preclinical programs in bone and joint diseases, announced that it has entered into a worldwide multitarget alliance with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...
Tuesday Oct 23, 2007
Experts Fret About How to Regulate "Generic" Biologics
Biopharmaceuticals are beginning to come off patent, promising cost savings for patients and headaches for regulators...
Friday Oct 19, 2007
First CDC Study to Find That 33% of Adults With Arthritis Report Reduced Ability to Work
Arthritis accounts for up to 15% of lost work days in some states, and a median 33% of adults with arthritis report reduced ability to work...
Friday Oct 19, 2007
Lilly Acquires Exclusive Rights to MacroGenics' Humanized Anti-CD3 Monoclonal Antibody and Will Collaborate to Develop Autoimmune Disease Treatments
Eli Lilly and Co and MacroGenics, Inc have entered into a global strategic alliance to develop and commercialize teplizumab (MGA031 or hOKT3γ1(Ala-Ala)), a humanized, non-Fc receptor binding, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, as well as other potential next generation anti-CD3 molecules, for use in the treatment of multiple T–cell-mediated autoimmune diseases...
Thursday Oct 11, 2007
IL-1ra Gene Therapy Stops Intervertebral Disc Degradation, Explant Study Shows
An in vitro study shows that IL-1 receptor antagonist delivered either directly or by gene therapy can inhibit matrix degradation in human intervertebral disc...
Tuesday Oct 09, 2007
Centocor Reports Infrequently-Administered Subcutaneous Injection of Anti-IL-12/23 Antibody, Ustekinumab, Resulted in Long-Term PASI 75 Response in Phase III Study
Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced findings from an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study involving 1230 subjects...
Friday Oct 05, 2007
Abbott's Anti-IL-12/23 Antibody, ABT-874, Shows Positive Results for Maintenance of Response in Phase II Psoriasis Study
Abbott Laboratories announced positive study data from an extension to a phase II study demonstrating that a majority of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients who responded to anti-IL-12/23 (ABT-874) after 12 weeks of treatment maintained a high level of response at 24 weeks, following discontinuation of therapy...
Thursday Oct 04, 2007
Celera Receives Clinical Milestone Payment Based on Merck's Advancement of Odanacatib, a Cathepsin K Inhibitor; Phase III Trial for Osteoporosis Initiated
Celera, an Applera Corp business, announced a clinical milestone payment of $2 million from Merck & Co, Inc, under the cathepsin K inhibitor collaboration agreement between the companies...
Thursday Oct 04, 2007
New Low Back Pain Guidelines Discourage Routine Imaging or Rest for Most Patients
New clinical guidelines for low back pain (LBP) discourage routine imaging in nonspecific LBP, set criteria for diagnostic imaging including MRI, recommend NSAIDs or acetaminophin as first-line drugs, urge the addition of nondrug therapy in difficult cases, and tell physicians to keep patients moving...
Wednesday Oct 03, 2007
Media Miss Point of Acupuncture Back Pain Study
Superficial needling at nonacupuncture points is as good as true acupuncture for relieving chronic low back pain and both are better than conventional therapy, raising the possibility that a "superplacebo effect" accounts for the benefits associated with acupuncture in previous studies...
Monday Oct 01, 2007
Novartis' COX-2 Inhibitor Prexige® Deemed "Not Approvable" by US FDA; Discussions with FDA to Continue
Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG announced that it has received a "not approvable" letter from the US FDA for its COX-2 inhibitor Prexige® (lumiracoxib) as a once-daily treatment for patients suffering from pain due to osteoarthritis...
Wednesday Sep 26, 2007
Wanted: Lupus Patients for Clinical Trials
The lupus therapeutic landscape is changing slowly but dramatically, and more patients are needed to help speed the development of new drugs…
Tuesday Sep 25, 2007
Radius Grants Novartis Exclusive Option to License BA058, an Analog of PTHrP, for Osteoporosis; Potentially Worth Over $500 Million
Radius Health, Inc, a company focused on the discovery and development of drug therapies for osteoporosis and women's health, announced that it has granted Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp an option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license (except Japan) to develop and commercialize all formulations of BA058, its postmenopausal osteoporosis drug candidate...
Monday Sep 24, 2007
Risk of Infection in TNF-Inhibitor Treatment May Be Higher Than Thought
A new analysis of data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register suggests that the risk of serious infection is increased during certain phases of TNF-inhibitor treatment...
Thursday Sep 20, 2007
Researchers Identify Additional RA, SLE Genes
Genetics researchers report a new variant on chromosome 9 associated with anti-CCP-positive RA and a mutation of STAT4 on chromosome 2q associated with both RA and lupus...
Wednesday Sep 19, 2007
Sosei's Fibromyalgia Phase II Trial of Nonopioid Analgesic, AD 337, Fails to Achieve Primary Endpoint
Sosei Group Corp, an international biopharmaceutical company focused on drug reprofiling, announced that its phase II proof-of-principle trial of AD 337 (an enantiomer of an approved, centrally acting, nonopioid, analgesic) for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) failed to achieve a statistically significant outcome in its primary endpoint at 4 weeks...
Friday Sep 14, 2007
Doctors Often Scoff at Reports of Statin Myopathy, UCSD Researchers Say
Myopathy is the most common adverse drug reaction (ADR) reported by patients taking statins, but a new study finds that doctors often wrongly dismiss these reports...Golomb BA, et al. Drug Safety. 2007;30:669-675.
Tuesday Sep 11, 2007
Genizon BioSciences Reports Results of Genome-Wide Association Study in Quebec Founder Population and the Identification of Multiple Validated Novel Genes for Crohn's
Genizon BioSciences Inc, known for its genome-wide association studies of the Quebec Founder Population (QFP) in search of genes involved in complex diseases, announced the identification of four novel loci (3p21, 4p16.1, 17q11.1, and 17q22-q23) in Crohn's disease (CD)...
Monday Sep 10, 2007
Jury Out on Whether Surgical Repair of ACL Tears Staves Off OA
Little convincing evidence supports surgical repair of the anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus as a way of preventing OA, but the problem may lie in the way the studies have been done, not in the surgery…Lohmander LS, et al. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Aug 29; doi: 10.1177/0363546507307396 [Epub ahead of print].
Thursday Aug 30, 2007
Medtronic Receives FDA Approval for First Artificial Disc for Use in the Cervical Spine in the US
Medtronic, Inc, announced that it has received US FDA approval to market the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc, the first artificial disc commercially available in the US for use in cervical disc arthroplasty or cervical artificial disc replacement...
Thursday Aug 23, 2007
Lilly Seeks Approval From US FDA for Cymbalta® (duloxetine hydrocholoride) in Fibromyalgia
Eli Lilly and Co announced that it has submitted a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to the US FDA for Cymbalta® (duloxetine hydrocholoride), a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI), for the management of fibromyalgia...
Monday Aug 20, 2007
Oral Glucosamine Sulphate Reaches Blood, Joints in Levels That Might Be Bioactive
Oral glucosamine sulphate is bioavailable in the blood and the joints…Persiani S, et al. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007;15;764-772.
Thursday Aug 16, 2007
Even Moderate Exercise Improves Outcomes in JIA
Two new studies document diminished aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity in children and teens with JIA and show that even moderate exercise can markedly improve outcomes...
Wednesday Aug 15, 2007
Successful Gout Treatment Requires Up To 33 Months to Clear Urate Crystals From Joint Fluid
Reduction of serum uric acid levels eventually clears urate crystals from the synovial fluid in patients with gout, but this may require up to 33 months of treatment in some cases...Pascual E, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007;66:1056-1058.
Tuesday Aug 14, 2007
Novartis Withdraws Lumiracoxib (Prexige®) in Australia in Response to Decision From Therapeutic Goods Administration to Cancel Registration
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd announced the immediate recall of all doses (100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg tablets) of lumiracoxib (Prexige®), a COX-2 inhibitor for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and acute pain...
Monday Aug 13, 2007
Hydroxychloroquine May Stave Off Lupus Onset
A provocative study suggests that giving hydroxychloroquine to lupus patients at the first symptom may delay or even prevent the development of full-blown SLE…James J, et al. Lupus. 2007;16:401-409.
Thursday Aug 09, 2007
Does Collagen Stimulate Its Own Degradation in OA Joints?
Chondrocytes are exposed to collagen in OA cartilage but not in normal joints. This process appears to trigger DDR-2-mediated expression of enzymes that further degrade collagen and add to joint destruction...Xu L et al, and Sandell LJ. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;2663-2673 and 2474-2477.
Tuesday Aug 07, 2007
Medarex Announces Initiation by Licensing Partner Novartis of Phase III Clinical Trial for Muckle-Wells Syndrome, a Rare Inherited Autoinflammatory Disease
Medarex, Inc announced that Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG has advanced ACZ885, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β (IL-1 β), to a phase III clinical trial for Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), an inherited systemic autoinflammatory disease...
Thursday Aug 02, 2007
Stem Cell Transplants Offer Hope for Children With Severe, Refractory JIA
Intensive immunosuppression followed by T-cell-depleted autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation offers refractory JIA patients a chance for remission, but is it worth the risks?…Brinkman DMC, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2410-2421.
Tuesday Jul 31, 2007
Barrier Therapeutics Announces Positive Phase IIb Data With Oral Rambazoleâ„¢ in Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Barrier Therapeutics, Inc, announced positive results from its phase IIb dose-finding study of oral Rambazoleâ„¢, an investigational all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) metabolism blocking agent drug candidate, for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Wednesday Jul 25, 2007
Targeted Genetics' Inflammatory Arthritis Phase I/II Trial Placed on Clinical Hold
Targeted Genetics Corp, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced that after recent discussions with the US FDA, the phase I/II clinical study of tgAAC94, an investigational therapy for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, has been placed on clinical hold.
Monday Jul 23, 2007
Is "Tech Neck" the Latest Casualty From Excessive Blackberry Use?
Rheumatologists and orthopaedists may be seeing an influx of patients complaining of neck pain caused by tilting their heads to use cell phones, BlackBerry devices, iPods, or handheld games.
Monday Jul 23, 2007
Elan, Biogen Idec to Appeal Negative Ruling on European Application for TysabriR for Crohn's
Elan Corporation, plc, and Biogen Idec announced that they have been informed by the European Medicines Agency that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a negative opinion on the marketing application for the use of Tysabri® (natalizumab).
Monday Jul 23, 2007
Birth Defects Reported After First-Trimester Leflunomide
Leflunomide (AravaR) has been reported to cause teratogenic effects in animals and is suspected of causing blindness and cerebral palsy in the son of a woman who took the drug through the first 21 weeks of gestation.
Friday Jul 20, 2007
OA Experts Discuss Inflammation, Joint Protection, Need for Disease-Modifying OA Drugs
CIAOMed's roundtable of osteoarthritis experts discuss the role of inflammation in OA, the possibility that OA joint damage might be preventable, and the future role of disease-modifying drugs in OA....
Wednesday Jul 11, 2007
Genzyme's Pivotal Trial of Hylastan for OA of the Knee Fails to Achieve Primary Endpoint
Genzyme Corp announced unfavorable topline results from a pivotal study investigating the safety and efficacy of hylastan, a viscosupplementation product, in treating pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee...
Friday Jul 06, 2007
Chi-Med Announces Positive Phase II Data for Botanical Compound, HMPL-004, in Ulcerative Colitis
Chi-Med, the Hutchison Whampoa-backed pharmaceutical and healthcare group, announced positive results for its phase II proof-of-concept study for HMPL-004 in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC).
Thursday Jul 05, 2007
Galapagos Expands OA Alliance With GSK
Galapagos NV, a drug-discovery company with clinical and preclinical programs in bone and joint diseases, announced that is has expanded its existing multiyear osteoarthritis (OA) alliance with GlaxoSmithKline and that it has issued 513,281 new shares for an investment of 4.4 million EUR (approximately 6 million USD) by GSK. In the expanded program, GSK will bring a drug-discovery program against a selected GSK target into the alliance, and Galapagos will advance a disease-modifying drug toward completion of clinical phase IIa (proof-of-concept phase), at which point GSK's global research and development branch will be responsible for the late-stage development, production, and marketing of the drug...
Tuesday Jul 03, 2007
Twenty Percent of Pregnant Women With RA Conceived While Taking Potentially Fetotoxic Drugs
The growing use of combination regimens including methotrexate in early RA warrants increased attention to warning patients about potential risks during the first trimester of pregnancy…
Thursday Jun 28, 2007
RA Disease Activity Decreases During Pregnancy, but Less Than Was Assumed
A prospective study of RA outcomes during pregnancy shows that improvement and remission rates are not as high as previously reported…
Tuesday Jun 26, 2007
Cytos Reports Results From Phase I/IIa Study With Vaccine Candidate CYT007-TNFQb for Treatment of Psoriasis; Demonstrated Safety and Tolerability but Transient Efficacy
Cytos Biotechnology AG, a public biotechnology company that specializes in the discovery, development, and commercialization of a new class of biopharmaceutical products called Immunodrugsâ„¢ reported results from a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind combined phase I/IIa study with CYT007-TNFQb, a novel therapeutic vaccine candidate for the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...
Thursday Jun 21, 2007
Lumiracoxib Effective for Hip OA and Better for BP Control Than Ibuprofen in Hypertensive OA Patients
Lumiracoxib shows promise for hip OA, and may be better than ibuprofen for hypertensive OA patients...
Monday Jun 18, 2007
Immediate Switch From TNF-Inhibitors To Abatacept Safe in RA Patients
A washout is not needed when switching from a TNF-inhibitor to abatacept...
Saturday Jun 16, 2007
Certolizumab, First PEGylated TNF-Blocker, May Surpass Older Drugs in Efficacy, Safety
When used with methotrexate, certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) may move rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients into remission more quickly than currently available TNF-blockers...
Friday Jun 15, 2007
First Phase III Tocilizumab Data Show Rapid Improvement in RA Disease Activity, Confirming Critical Role of IL-6
Results of the first phase III trial of tocilizumab show that the anti-IL-6 monoclonal combined with methotrexate produces fast, sustained improvements in RA signs and symptoms, including a notable number of DAS28 remissions...
Thursday Jun 14, 2007
More Patients Needed to Validate Biomarkers and Genotyping in Rheumatoid Diseases
Biomarkers and genotyping technology have outpaced the number of patient cohorts available for validation studies in rheumatoid diseases, but the new approaches are expected to change how clinicians assess disease susceptibility and predict response to therapy...
Wednesday Jun 13, 2007
Stopping AS May Require Earlier Use of TNF-Inhibitors
Inflammation in AS stops once the subchondral bone is eroded and the bone/cartilage interface disappears, so preventing bone erosion and syndesmophyte formation is likely to require early anti-inflammatory treatment, including TNF-inhibitors...
Monday Jun 11, 2007
Centocor's Remicade® (Infliximab) Receives EU Approval as First and Only Biologic for the Treatment of Pediatric Patients With Severe, Active Crohn's Disease
Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough Corp, announced that the European Commission has approved a new indication for Remicade (infliximab) allowing for the treatment of severe, active Crohn's disease (CD) in pediatric patients ages 6 to 17 years, who have not responded to conventional therapy including a corticosteroid, an immunomodulator, and primary nutrition therapy, or who are intolerant to, or have contraindications for such therapies...
Thursday Jun 07, 2007
High Plasma Homocysteine Predicts Hip Fracture
Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) may be a modifiable risk factor for osteoporotic hip fracture...
Thursday Jun 07, 2007
ChemoCentryx Reports Positive Phase II Clinical Data for the CCR9 antagonist Traficet-EN® in Crohn's
ChemoCentryx, Inc, a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercializing orally-administered therapeutics that target the chemokine system, reported data from its phase II clinical trial of Traficet-EN in moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. Traficet-EN is an oral anti-inflammatory agent that targets the chemokine receptor CCR9...
Friday Jun 01, 2007
HGS and GSK Initiate Second Phase III Clinical Trial of LymphoStat-BR (Belimumab) in Lupus
Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced that dosing has begun in BLISS-52, the second of two pivotal phase III clinical trials of LymphoStat-B® (belimumab), a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS®), in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Tuesday May 29, 2007
Biomechanics, Damage Outside Cartilage May Doom Chondroprotection
Chondroprotection seemed like a reasonable approach to OA when the disease was thought to result from wear and tear on cartilage, but it has had little success in clinical trials. Biomechanics and damage outside the cartilage may be the reason...
Thursday May 24, 2007
Is Mycophenolate Mofetil Plus Steroid Now Standard Therapy for Lupus Nephritis?
Mycophenolate mofetil plus corticosteroids may emerge as the de facto standard for lupus nephritis, even without regulatory approval...
Thursday May 24, 2007
SLE Experts Highlight Need for Targeted Therapies
SLE treatment has improved, but not enough, and more targeted therapies may be the answer...
Wednesday May 23, 2007
Celgene to Advance Clinical and Regulatory Development of Oral Anti-Inflammatory Agents Based on Successful Phase II Trial in Psoriasis; Expands Clinical Program to Include RA and PsA
Celgene Corp (SUMMIT, New Jersey), an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer, announced plans to advance its leading oral anti-inflammatory candidates to address a broad range of inflammatory diseases...
Wednesday May 23, 2007
4SC AG Updates Progress of Phase IIa Clinical Trial in RA
4SC AG, focusing on the discovery and development of novel drug candidates for inflammatory diseases and cancer using a cheminformatics-based technology platform, reported on the progress of a phase IIa clinical trial of its lead drug candidate SC12267, an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Environment Interaction Seen As Next Step in Lupus Genetics
New gene analysis techniques have led to the discovery and characterization of several genes associated with SLE...
Friday May 18, 2007
Xanthus Acquires Exclusive License to FLT3 Tyrosine Kinase Pathway Patent Estate as a Target for Treating Autoimmune Diseases
Xanthus Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, acquisition, and commercialization of small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced that it has acquired an exclusive worldwide license to a patent estate from The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for treating immune-related disorders by inhibiting the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase...
Friday May 18, 2007
PDL BioPharma Advances Nuvion® Into Second Pivotal Study in Intravenous Steroid-Refractory Ulcerative Colitis
PDL BioPharma, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercializing humanized monoclonal antibodies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced it will advance NuvionR (visilizumab), a humanized antibody, into a phase III clinical program in patients with intravenous steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (IVSR-UC)...
Friday May 18, 2007
Little Benefit Found for Amitriptyline in JIA, But New Research Design May Speed Clinical Trials
Amitriptyline is ineffective for JIA pain, but multiple serial N-of-1 trials plus Bayesian meta-analysis can be used with low patient numbers to weed out treatments that don't merit study in large clinical trials...
Thursday May 17, 2007
Airport Metal Detectors Find Most Hip, Knee Replacements
Airport metal detectors on "high security" sweeps detect most hip and knee implants. Patients who have implants should be provided with a physician's letter describing the implant and are advised to report the implant to airport security before approaching the scanner...
Wednesday May 16, 2007
AlphaRx and Proprius Report Nonachievement of Primary Endpoints in Their Topical NSAID (Indaflexâ„¢) Phase II Study in Osteoarthritis
AlphaRx Inc (MARKHAM, an emerging drug delivery company, and Proprius Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic services company that focuses on the area of rheumatology and autoimmune diseases, announced that results from the Indaflexâ„¢ 2.5% Topical Indomethacin Cream exploratory phase II clinical trial for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (INDF-200) did not achieve its primary endpoints....
Tuesday May 15, 2007
TNF-α, IL-1 Mediate Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Blocking TNF-α or IL-1 can slow postmenopausal bone loss...
Monday May 07, 2007
Selected Presentations From the American Pain Society Meeting
American Pain Society presentations included new research on genetic factors associated with TMJD and with shoulder pain, a randomized trial of nabilone for fibromyalgia, and the intersection between chronic pain and PTSD...
Friday Apr 27, 2007
Estrogen Exposure May Increase Lupus Risk
Lupus affects nine women for every one man. Is estrogen to blame?...
Monday Apr 23, 2007
Rigel Provides Clinical Update of R788 Phase II Trials in ITP and RA
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a clinical-stage drug development company, provided an update on R788, currently involved in ongoing phase II clinical trials in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...
Monday Apr 23, 2007
Tramadol for OA? Meta-Analysis Shows Pain Relief, But Barely
A new meta-analysis concludes that tramadol is better than placebo at decreasing pain intensity, relieving symptoms, and improving function in patients with OA, but the degree of benefit is small; one in eight patients will stop taking the drug because of adverse events...
Thursday Apr 19, 2007
Nuvelo Reports R-Spondin 1(NU206) Ameliorates Experimental Colitis in Mice
Nuvelo, Inc (SAN CARLOS, California), a publicly traded, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced positive preclinical data from a study of NU206 (human R-spondin1), a secreted protein currently in preclinical development, showing that it acts as a specific and potent stimulator of gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cells and is capable of ameliorating experimental colitis in mice...
Wednesday Apr 18, 2007
Death Forces Early Termination of Study of Infliximab in Systemic Vasculitis
Adverse events, including one death among nine patients treated, forced early termination of infliximab trial in systemic vasculitis...
Friday Apr 13, 2007
Better Pain Management Urged for OA Patients Awaiting Hip or Knee Replacement in U.K.
Most patients on waiting lists for hip or knee replacement in Britain, report continuing, severe pain and suboptimal levels of analgesia...
Tuesday Apr 10, 2007
Spot Urine P/C Ratio Can Replace 24-Hour Urine Total Protein for Monitoring Lupus Nephritis in Most Cases
A new analysis adds further support to use spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, instead of 24-hour urine total protein, to monitor lupus nephritis activity and response to treatment...
Monday Apr 02, 2007
News Analysis: New FDA Conflict-of-Interest Guidelines May Impact Advisory Committees
FDA is moving to tighten financial conflict-of-interest guidelines for members of FDA advisory committees, despite evidence that excluding participants with such interests would have had no impact on the vote outcomes of prior meetings…
Monday Apr 02, 2007
Nuvo Provides Update on Pennsaid® Discussions with the US FDA
Nuvo Research Inc is a publicly traded pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing innovative site-specific therapeutics that are delivered topically using the company's skin-penetrating technologies...
Thursday Mar 29, 2007
FDG-PET Does Not Predict PMR Relapse But Does Show Inflammation of Processi Spinosi
FDG-PET did not help identify polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients at high risk for relapse but did reveal a high level of inflammation of the processi spinosi, a novel finding that might help explain the morning stiffness reported by so many PMR patients...
Thursday Mar 29, 2007
Nitec Grants German Marketing Rights to Merck Pharma GmbH for Lodotraâ„¢, a Modified-Release Low-Dose Prednisone for RA
Nitec Pharma AG, a specialist pharmaceutical company that focuses on the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, announced that it has granted marketing rights in Germany to Merck Pharma GmbH, a division of Merck KGaA, for Lodotraâ„¢, a modified-release tablet that has been developed to optimize the efficacy of orally administered low-dose prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...
Thursday Mar 29, 2007
"Emotional" Brain Areas Triggered by OA Pain Might Be Good Therapeutic Target
Patients feel knee OA pain through two brain systems: the ‘lateral pain system,' involved with sensory pain, and the ‘medial pain system,' involved with the emotional aspects of pain. The latter may be a good target for new analgesics for arthritic pain...
Monday Mar 26, 2007
Astion Pharma Raises $6.5 Million to Advance Dermatology Portfolio Including a Drug Candidate in Preclinical Development for Psoriasis and a Candidate in Phase II Clinical Development for the Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Astion Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of treatments for severe skin diseases, announced it has raised approximately $6.5 million of new capital from existing shareholders to fund its development activities in the field of dermatology...
Thursday Mar 22, 2007
New Studies Urge Closer Monitoring for JIA-Related Uveitis, TNF-Inhibitors Effective For Difficult Cases
New studies report that uveitis occurs in up to 20% of JIA patients, that TNF-inhibitors may be effective in hard-to-treat cases, and that close monitoring for uveitis should continue even during arthritis remissions...
Thursday Mar 22, 2007
Clinquest Obtains from TNO Exclusive Worldwide Rights to Develop and Commercialize Protein for Inflammatory Disorders
Clinquest Group (AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands), a provider of product development services to the biopharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics and medical data industries, and TNO (DELFT, The Netherlands), an independent research technology organization, announced the signing of a license and collaboration agreement that provides Clinquest with the exclusive rights to worldwide clinical development and commercialization of CQ-07001, a human protein shown to be a powerful agonist to toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and a candidate for anti-inflammatory and tissue regeneration applications...
Monday Mar 19, 2007
Joint Damage Continues in Some RA Patients Despite Sustained Clinical Remission
Radiologic damage may progress in some RA patients who meet standard criteria for clinical remission. This radiologic damage is independent of joint inflammation, and absence of progression should be added to remission criteria in RA...
Thursday Mar 15, 2007
Growing Conflict-of-Interest Concerns Drive Demands for International Registration of All Clinical Trials
Growing evidence of a correlation between industry sponsorship of clinical trials and reported outcomes favorable to the sponsor are driving demands for an international clinical trials registration system that would include data beginning with phase I studies and continuing through completion of phase III trials...
Tuesday Mar 13, 2007
Less Use of Diuretics, Earlier Hypouricemic Therapy Urged In Renal Transplant Patients At Risk for Recurrent Gout
Up to 23% of renal transplant recipients develop gout posttransplant but most are not getting hypouricemic therapy, even when they report recurrent gout attacks...
Friday Mar 09, 2007
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Reports Positive Interim Antibody Results From Riquent® Lupus Phase III Trial; Results Imply Greater Probability of Clinical Benefit in the Treatment of Lupus Renal Disease as a Trial Outcome
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, announced positive interim antibody results from its ongoing double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized phase III trial of Riquent® (abetimus sodium), its drug candidate for the treatment of renal disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Wednesday Mar 07, 2007
Evotec and Interprotein Sign Collaboration Agreement to Develop Small Molecule Interleukin-6 Inhibitors to Treat Inflammatory Diseases
Evotec AG, a leader in the discovery and development of small molecule drugs, and Interprotein Corporation, a developer of orally bioavailable small molecule drugs that modulate protein-protein interactions, announced that they have signed a collaboration agreement on Interprotein's interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors program for the development of novel, orally active drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases...
Tuesday Mar 06, 2007
Calistoga Pharmaceuticals Completes $21 Million Series A Financing to Advance Drug Development Programs for Inflammation and Oncology Indications
Calistoga Pharmaceuticals Inc, a newly formed, privately-held drug development company focusing on developing novel therapies for inflammation and oncology, announced that it closed a Series A venture round of financing after raising $21 million...
Monday Mar 05, 2007
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company Implements Several Modifications and Updates Status of Phase III Riquent® Study for the Treatment of Lupus Renal Disease
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (SAN DIEGO, California) announced its continued progress in enrolling patients in its phase III clinical trial of Riquent® (abetimus sodium) for the treatment of lupus renal disease.
Monday Mar 05, 2007
New Study Suggests MRI Might Be Alternative to Radiographic JSW as Efficacy Measure for Osteoarthritis Drugs
Radiographic JSW remains the gold standard for assessing progression of knee OA in clinical trials, but new research suggests that MRI might be a reasonable alternative...
Thursday Feb 22, 2007
Zimmer and ISTO Start Clinical Trial of Neocartilage (DeNovo® ET Engineered Tissue Graft), a Novel Cartilage Regeneration Treatment
Zimmer Holdings, Inc, an orthopaedic leader in reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma, and related orthopaedic surgical products, and ISTO Technologies, Inc, a clinical-stage orthobiologic company that focuses on cell-based technology for the repair and regeneration of damaged cartilage in joints and spinal discs, announced the initiation of a clinical trial for Neocartilage, a living tissue-engineered graft...
Thursday Feb 22, 2007
Study Supports Intra-Articular Steroid Injections for Hip OA
Steroid injections in the hip to treat hip OA were effective in an uncontrolled pilot study and should be studied in randomized, controlled trials...
Tuesday Feb 20, 2007
Subset of Early RA Patients Seems Doomed to Progression Regardless of Treatment
Some patients with recent-onset RA who are RF-positive, are anti-CCP-positive, or have a high cumulative amount of disease activity are likely to have rapid progression despite aggressive treatment...
Thursday Feb 15, 2007
HGS and GSK Initiate Phase III Clinical Trial of LymphoStat-B® in Lupus
Human Genome Sciences, Inc and GlaxoSmithKline PLC announced the initiation of dosing in BLISS-76, one of two pivotal phase III clinical trials of LymphoStat-B® (belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody that blocks the biological activity of B-lymphocyte stimulator, or BLyS®) in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)...
Thursday Feb 15, 2007
Experts at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Predict Clinically Useful Gene Therapy, Tissue Engineering Will Be Available "in 5 to 10 Years"
Presentations at the AAOS meeting include advances in both gene therapy and tissue-engineered products for cartilage, bone, and tendon repair...
Tuesday Feb 13, 2007
Rheumatologists Advised to Be Alert for Signs of Serum Sickness in Rituximab-Treated Patients
The first case of rituximab-induced serum sickness in a patient without an underlying autoimmune disorder suggests that this problem might be under-recognized in RA and SLE patients...
Tuesday Feb 13, 2007
SRI and Telik Announce Exclusive License for SRI to Develop MCP-1 Antagonist for Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
Telik, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing novel small molecule drug candidates, and SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization, announced that they have signed an exclusive license agreement...
Monday Feb 05, 2007
Ception Therapeutics Raises $63 Million in Series C Financing for Mid-to-Late Stage Anti-Inflammatory Trials
Ception Therapeutics, Inc, an emerging biopharmaceutical company having corporate offices in MALVERN, Pennsylvania, and a research center in ROCKVILLE, Maryland, announced that it has raised $63 million through a Series C private placement of preferred stock.
Monday Feb 05, 2007
Kirin and Astellas Enter Into a Collaborative Agreement for Fully Human Anti-CD40 Antagonistic Monoclonal Antibody
Kirin Brewery Company, Limited (TOKYO, Japan), having immunological diseases as one of its focused targets, and Astellas Pharma Inc (TOKYO, Japan), having a strong foundation in organ transplantation, announced that they have entered into a worldwide license and collaborative research and development agreement under which Kirin and Astellas will collaborate exclusively to develop and market a fully human anti-CD40 antagonistic monoclonal antibody...
Tuesday Jan 30, 2007
Lexicon Genetics to Become Lexicon Pharmaceuticals; Plans to File IND for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lexicon Genetics Incorporated, an emerging biopharmaceutical company employing its proprietary gene knockout technology to discover knockout-validated drug targets, announced that it is it is changing its name to Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc, to reflect the company's focus on operations on drug discovery and development.
Monday Jan 29, 2007
MediGene Initiates Phase IIa Clinical Trial of RhuDex®, an Oral Inhibitor of T-cell Activation, in RA
MediGene AG (MARTINSRIED/MUNICH, Germany), the publicly-held biotechnology company targeting autoimmune diseases and cancer announced the initiation of a phase IIa clinical trial of its drug candidate RhuDex®, a novel, orally bioavailable inhibitor of T-cell costimulation via the CD80-CD28 pathway, in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Monday Jan 29, 2007
Renovis Reduces Workforce by 40%; Will Focus on Inflammatory Diseases and Pain
Renovis, Inc (SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, California), a biopharmaceutical company that seeks to discover, develop, and commercialize therapeutics for inflammatory and neurological diseases, announced it has reduced its workforce by approximately 40% to approximately 70 employees.
Tuesday Jan 23, 2007
Can the Web Help Doctors Get RA Patients Moving? Maybe
RA patients randomized to an individualized, Internet-based exercise program report more physical activity than those given general exercise information, but the electronic monitor does not confirm their reports...
Monday Jan 22, 2007
Merrion Reports Positive Clinical Results for Osteoporosis Drug MER 103, An Innovative Dosage Form of Alendronate (Fosamax); Absorbed More Effectively and Improved Dosing Ritual vs Fosamax
Merrion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a privately-held international specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the development of improved oral dosage forms of drugs that have poor bioavailability, announced the successful completion of a phase II clinical pharmacology study of MER 103.
Monday Jan 22, 2007
Glenmark's Lead Drug Candidate for pain, GRC 6211, Enters Phase I in Europe; Osteoarthritis a Target
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals SA, the wholly owned Swiss subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd (MUMBAI, India), a research-led, global, fully integrated pharmaceutical company, has applied for phase I clinical trials in Europe for GRC 6211...
Thursday Jan 18, 2007
New Treatments Rocked Rheumatology in 2006
New treatment options have advanced rheumatology care in 2006, but lupus remains an unsolved problem, and CIAOMed Editorial Board members expect economic issues to greatly impact rheumatology practice in 2007...
Tuesday Jan 16, 2007
Can-Fite Completes Enrollment of 250 Patients in Phase IIb RA Trial of CF101, an A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonist; Receives US$1 Million Payment from Seikagaku Corporation
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on a portfolio of orally bioavailable, highly selective, small molecule A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) agonists with potent activities in inflammation and cancer, announced the completion of patient enrollment in a phase IIb rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trial of CF101, an A(3)AR agonist...
Tuesday Jan 16, 2007
FDA Sets New Rule on Calcium/Vitamin D Osteoporosis Claims for Food, Diet Supplement Labeling
The FDA will permit a new "calcium plus vitamin D" claim in food and dietary supplement labeling for reducing the risk of osteoporosis and will shorten the required label in the hope that more dairy, juice, and other products that qualify will put it on their packaging, thus increasing consumer awareness...
Thursday Jan 11, 2007
Combination DMARD Therapy Leads to Sustained Remission in RA
Treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a combination of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) plus prednisolone results in sustained remission and blocks the progression of radiographic joint damage in a "remarkable proportion" of patients...
Wednesday Jan 10, 2007
GlaxoSmithKline to Acquire Praecis Pharmaceuticals for US$54.8 Million; Acquisition Includes Inhibitor of Methionine Aminopeptidase Type-2 for RA
GlaxoSmithKline plc and Praecis Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (WALTHAM, Massachusetts) announced the execution of a definitive agreement providing for GSK to acquire all outstanding shares of Praecis' common stock for a cash purchase price of US$5.00 per share or a total of approximately $54.8 million for the entire equity interest of Praecis. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007.
Tuesday Jan 09, 2007
Small Study Highlights Role for Etanercept in Rheumatological Manifestations of HCV
Etanercept seems to be safe and effective for the treatment of rheumatological manifestations associated with hepatitis virus C, but more studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn...
Monday Jan 08, 2007
MedImmune In-Licenses from Japan Tobacco anti-ICOS Monoclonal Antibody for Inflammatory Diseases
MedImmune, Inc announced an exclusive license agreement with Japan Tobacco, Inc (JT), for a human monoclonal antibody inhibiting inducible costimulator (ICOS), a protein associated with T-cell activation that plays a key role in controlling adaptive immune responses.
Thursday Jan 04, 2007
FivePrime Signs Collaborative Research and License Deal With Centocor to Discover Therapeutics to Treat OA and Other Diseases
FivePrime Therapeutics, Inc, a privately held protein therapeutics discovery and development company, announced the signing of a worldwide collaborative research and license agreement with Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, to discover therapeutic products to treat osteoarthritis (OA) and pulmonary fibrosis.
Wednesday Jan 03, 2007
Nuvo Receives Approvable Letter from US FDA for Pennsaid, a Topical Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee; Nuvo Licenses Canadian Pennsaid Plus Rights to Squire Pharmaceuticals, a Subsidiary of Paladin Labs
Nuvo Research Inc announced that it has received an approvable letter from the US FDA for Pennsaid® (1.5% w/w diclofenac sodium solution), a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
Thursday Dec 21, 2006
Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy in Lupus—Is Vitamin B6 Toxicity to Blame? —Updated
As growing numbers of Americans turn to vitamin and mineral supplements to boost their health, a new case report showing that vitamin B6 toxicity may have caused peripheral sensory neuropathy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is cause for concern...
Tuesday Dec 19, 2006
FDA Warns of Fatal PML Risk With Rituximab Treatment
FDA reports deaths of two lupus patients treated with rituximab, warns of PML risk...
Monday Dec 18, 2006
Genzyme, Anika Retain Separate Medicare Code and Reimbursement Rate for Synvisc and Orthovisc, Respectively; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Reverse Earlier Decision
Genzyme Corp (CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts) and Anika Therapeutics, Inc (WOBURN, Massachusetts) independently announced that Synvisc® (hylan G-F 20) and Orthovisc®, their respective hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplement products used to treat pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, will maintain separate reimbursement codes and rates for 2007, according to a decision made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Wednesday Dec 13, 2006
RA Remission Often Accompanied by Silent Synovitis
The majority of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who meet ACR remission criteria still have synovitis detectable on MRI or ultrasound...
Tuesday Dec 12, 2006
ChemoCentryx Releases Additional Clinical and Preclinical Data on Traficet-EN in Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Clinical Analysis Shows that Traficet-EN Reduces Inflammation
ChemoCentryx, Inc (MIAMI, Florida), a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing orally-administered therapeutics that target the chemokine and chemoattractant systems in order to treat autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer, announced new data from a phase II clinical trial of its lead drug candidate Traficet-ENR (CCX282-B, a first-in-class, orally active, anti-inflammatory agent that targets the chemokine receptor known as CCR9) in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD).
Monday Dec 11, 2006
GlaxoSmithKline to Acquire Domantis for US$454 Million
GlaxoSmithKline (LONDON, United Kingdom) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Domantis Ltd (an early-stage, antibody-based therapeutics company) for US$454 million in cash.
Thursday Dec 07, 2006
High-Dose Immune Suppression With or Without Stem Cell Transplants For Systemic Sclerosis
Studies are evaluating stem cell transplantation as a potential treatment for autoimmune disease, however, researchers sharply disagree regarding myeloablative vs nonmyeloablative approaches and whether stem cells are really necessary...
Thursday Dec 07, 2006
Leaning Back Might Help the Desk-Bound Dodge Back Pain
A positional MRI study of sitting postures and intervertebral disk morphology suggests that leaning back a bit rather than sitting up straight or slouching can greatly reduce strain on the lumbar spine and cut the risk of chronic back pain...
Friday Dec 01, 2006
Registry Study Says RA Biologics Raise Odds of Melanomas and Skin Cancers, Not Other Malignancies
The latest attempt to sort out the relationship between TNF inhibitors and cancer risk in RA patients found no increase in overall cancer risk, but substantial increases in melanoma and nonmelanomatous skin cancer rates in patients treated with these agents...Wolfe F, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.
Wednesday Nov 29, 2006
KaloBios Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of Anti-GM-CSF Antibody for Rheumatoid Arthritis
KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a privately-held clinical development company focused on the development of therapeutic antibodies, announced that it has begun treating patients in a phase I clinical trial of its investigational rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapeutic, KB002, an engineered chimeric human monoclonal antibody targeting the cytokine growth factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
Wednesday Nov 29, 2006
Source MDx Awarded SBIR Phase I Grant; Will Collaborate with Tufts-New England Medical Center to Develop Biomarkers to Predict Responders and Nonresponders to Anti-TNF Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Source MDx, a molecular diagnostics company, and Tufts-New England Medical Center (NEMC) announced a collaboration to investigate the clinical use of RNA-based molecular diagnostic tests to monitor rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease status and response to therapy.
Wednesday Nov 29, 2006
Millennium Begins Phase II Study of CCR1 Antagonist in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced the initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II study of MLN3897, an orally active, small-molecule antagonist of the chemokine receptor CCR1, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Wednesday Nov 22, 2006
Still No Final Word on Diskectomy vs Nonoperative Treatment for HNP
New data show no dramatic difference between diskectomy and nonoperative management of lumbar disk herniation—suggesting that individual patient preferences should play a major role in choice of treatment— and that there is no great risk in delaying surgery.
Wednesday Nov 22, 2006
Sosei Ends Development of AD 452 Following Failure to Achieve Primary and Secondary Endpoints in Phase IIb Clinical Trial for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sosei Group Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, announced that AD 452, a novel, small molecule cytokine modulator, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) being developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on a background of methotrexate, failed to meet its primary or secondary efficacy endpoints in a phase IIb clinical trial. As a consequence of these results Sosei has decided to discontinue with the development of this compound for the treatment of RA.
Tuesday Nov 21, 2006
Study Helps Explain Why Smoking Slows Ligament and Bone Healing
Smoking cigarettes delays cartilage formation in healing bone fractures and slows type I collagen production and recruitment of cells linked to healing of torn ligaments…
Thursday Nov 16, 2006
Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp Announces Exclusive Worldwide License Agreement for Mesd Reagents for Treatment of Osteoporosis
Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Raptor Pharmaceutical Inc, an early stage biotechnology research and development company which bioengineers novel drugs and drug-targeting platforms derived from the human receptor-associated protein (RAP) and related proteins, signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the use of Mesd reagents for therapeutic treatment of osteoporosis with Washington University, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Wednesday Nov 15, 2006
Three-Year BeSt Results Suggest MTX Plus Infliximab Can Move Some RA Patients Into Drug-Free Remission
Three-year results from the BeSt study suggest that early induction therapy with infliximab plus MTX can bring about remission in RA patients…Van Der Kooij SM, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.
Wednesday Nov 15, 2006
Once-Yearly Zoledronic Acid Injection Reduces Fracture Risk, Improves Bone Structure in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis
Once-yearly injections of zoledronic acid 5 mg reduces fracture risk, improves bone mineral density, and improves bone structure in women with osteoporosis... Black DM, Recker RR. Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.
Tuesday Nov 14, 2006
PROMPT Study Shows "Window of Opportunity" in Early Undifferentiated Arthritis
Early MTX treatment can delay and possibly prevent progression to RA among anti-CCP positive patients who have early, undifferentiated arthritis... van Dongen H, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.
Monday Nov 13, 2006
Beyond HLA: Genetic Studies Find Markers Associated With Elevated Risk for RA
HLA DR4 is only one of the genetic factors involved in RA, and new genomics techniques are beginning to fill in the rest of the picture... Gregersen PK. Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.
Monday Nov 13, 2006
Rheumatologists Urged to Remember Global Health Concerns
Rheumatologists must pay attention to the current global health crisis and aid in the efforts to bring life-saving tools to the developing world, urged Tadataka Yamada, MD, executive director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Health Program in Seattle, WA... Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.
Wednesday Nov 08, 2006
CombinatoRx Syncretic Drug Candidate CRx-102 Achieves Phase II Trial Endpoints in Rheumatoid Arthritis
CombinatoRx, Incorporated announced positive preliminary results of its phase II clinical trial of CRx-102, an oral synergistic combination drug candidate containing the generic cardiovascular agent dipyridamole and an unconventionally low dose (3mg, below the effective human dose) of the generic steroid prednisolone, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Tuesday Nov 07, 2006
Ablynx, Wyeth Sign Exclusive Research and License Agreement for Nanobodies® Directed at TNF-α and Its Receptors
Ablynx, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of a novel class of therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments (Nanobodies®) announced that they have entered into a research collaboration and exclusive worldwide license agreement with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (a division of Wyeth) to discover, develop, and commercialize Nanobodies directed at TNF-α and its receptors, targeting diseases in multiple therapeutic areas.
Monday Nov 06, 2006
Array BioPharma Reports Success in Two Approaches to Inflammatory Disease: MEK Inhibitor Achieves Phase I Clinical Objectives; p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitor Advances into Clinical Development
Array BioPharma Inc. (BOULDER, Colorado), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of orally active, small molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer, announced preliminary results from a phase I clinical trial evaluating its first-in-class MEK (MAPK kinase) inhibitor for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Thursday Nov 02, 2006
Disappointing Results in Study of Stem Cells for Cartilage Repair
Hopes that adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) might be used to create chondrocytes for patching cartilage had a setback when researchers found that culturing them in the usual chondrogenic medium did not produce tissues capable of becoming stable articular cartilage in vivo...
Wednesday Nov 01, 2006
Genzyme to Challenge Medicare Code and Reimbursement Decision for Synvisc
Genzyme Corporation, one of the world's leading biotechnology companies, announced that it will work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), government officials and, if necessary, through legal channels to dispute a CMS decision to group all viscosupplementation products into a single reimbursement code.
Monday Oct 30, 2006
Neurochem Submits Complete Response to US FDA Approvable Letter for Eprodisate (KIACTAâ„¢) for the Treatment of Amyloid A Amyloidosis
Neurochem (International) Limited (Neurochem), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Neurochem Inc, headquartered in Québec, Canada, announced that it has submitted a complete response to the US FDA approvable letter for eprodisate (1,3-propanedisulfonate, Kiacta™, formerly Fibrillex™), an oral investigational product candidate for the treatment of amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis.
Monday Oct 23, 2006
Etanercept/MTX Uncouple Inflammation and Joint Destruction in RA
RA patients treated with etanercept plus methotrexate have less radiographic progression of joint damage than patients who take either drug alone, even if they continue to have inflammation or other makers of active disease....
Thursday Oct 19, 2006
Conventional strength training program has little effect on knee OA progression
Conventional strength training exercises have little effect on progression of knee osteoarthritis... Mikesky AE, et al. Arthritis Care & Research 2006;55:690-693.
Thursday Oct 19, 2006
Lexicon Genetics Initiates Formal Preclinical Development for LX2931 for Autoimmune Disease
Lexicon Genetics Incorporated, an emerging biopharmaceutical company employing its proprietary gene knockout technology to discover knockout-validated drug targets, announced that it is initiating formal preclinical development for LX2931 in preparation for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application.
Tuesday Oct 10, 2006
Trubion Initiates Phase IIb Clinical Trial of CD20-Targeted TRU-015 for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced it has initiated a phase IIb clinical trial of TRU-015, the company's lead Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical (SMIPâ„¢) CD20-targeted drug candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via B-cell depletion...
Tuesday Oct 10, 2006
ASBMR Convenes International Task Force on Jaw Osteonecrosis, Issues Interim Guidelines for Osteoporosis Patients
Reacting to multiple reports of jaw osteonecrosis in patients treated with bisphosphonates, the ASBMR has convened an international task force to address this "emerging and urgent clinical problem" and has issued interim clinical recommendations... Shane E, et al. JBMR. 2006;21:1503-1505.
Friday Oct 06, 2006
Isotechnika's Calcineurin Inhibitor (ISA247) Receives Regulatory Green Light for Phase III Psoriasis Trials in Canada and Germany, Poland Is Pending
Isotechnika Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and for use in the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation, announced that it has received a No Objection Letter from Health Canada and similar approval from the German Competent Authority to conduct a pivotal phase III clinical trial of its lead immunosuppressive, oral calcineurin inhibitor drug candidate, ISA247 (an isomeric cyclosporine A analog mixture), for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis...
Tuesday Oct 03, 2006
Genzyme's Synvisc Receives European Approval to Expand Label to Include the Treatment of OA Pain of the Ankle and Shoulder
Genzyme Corporation announced that it has received European approval to expand the CE mark labeling for SynviscR (hylan G-F 20) to include treatment of pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle and shoulder. Genzyme expects to begin marketing Synvisc in the EU with its new label immediately.
Monday Oct 02, 2006
Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Seen in Leflunomide-Treated RA Patient
A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis associated with leflunomide treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has been reported... Wardwell NR, et al. Respirology. 2006;11:663-665.
Friday Sep 29, 2006
Amgen to Acquire Avidia Including Its Phase I Clinical Stage Interleukin-6 Inhibitor and Novel Avimer Protein Platform
Amgen announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amgen has agreed to acquire Avidia, a privately held biopharmaceutical company located in Mountain View, Calif., that discovers and develops a new class of human therapeutic known as Avimerâ„¢ (from avidity multimers) proteins.
Thursday Sep 28, 2006
RA Skin Problems Related or Due to Disease or Treatment?
Skin problems are more common in RA patients than in those with non-inflammatory diseases, but only steroid-related bruising and athlete's foot appear to be related to either RA itself or its treatment.
Wednesday Sep 27, 2006
UCB, Immunomedic Phase III of Epratuzumab in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on Clinical Hold
UCB, SA, licensing partner of Immunomedics, Inc. (Morris Plains, NJ), announced that it has voluntarily, temporarily suspended dosing in the phase III clinical studies of epratuzumab (humanized anti-CD22 antibody) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) because of end-stage manufacturing observations by UCB during a recent routine quality assurance audit of the Immunomedics facilities.
Thursday Sep 21, 2006
Avidia Initiates Clinical Trial of Avimerâ„¢ C326, an Inhibitor of Interleukin-6, for Crohn's Disease
vidia, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a new class of small, assembled human therapeutic proteins called Avimersâ„¢ (from avidity multimers), announced that it has initiated dosing of the first patient for a phase I clinical trial of its Avimer drug candidate C326, an inhibitor of interleukin-6 (IL-6), for the treatment of Crohn's disease.
Thursday Sep 21, 2006
Abatacept Should Not be Used with Etanercept to Treat RA
The combination of etanercept and abatacept increased serious adverse effects and provided little clinical benefit for patients with RA... Weinblatt M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;25 August 2006 [Epub ahead of print]
Wednesday Sep 13, 2006
Can-Fite BioPharma to Develop Its A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonist (CF101) for Psoriasis
Can-Fite BioPharma, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on a portfolio of orally bioavailable, highly selective, small-molecule A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists with potent activities in inflammation and cancer, announced the intent to initiate a phase II clinical trial in psoriasis for its lead drug candidate, CF101.
Tuesday Sep 12, 2006
BioLineRx In-Licenses Novel Antisense Drug for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases
BioLineRx announced that it has signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement with B.G. Negev Technologies Ltd., the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and Mor Research Applications, Ltd., the Technology Transfer Office of Clalit Health Services, for the development and commercialization of BL-3030, a novel antisense drug inhibiting the formation of the enzyme cPLA2 (cytosolic phospholipase A2)for the treatment of inflammatory diseases...
Monday Sep 11, 2006
Abbott Seeks US and EU Approvals for HUMIRA (Adalimumab) for Crohn's Disease
Abbott announced it has simultaneously submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application with the US FDA and a Type II Variation to the European Medicines Agency seeking approval to market HUMIRAR (adalimumab) as a treatment for moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease...
Tuesday Sep 05, 2006
Medarex and GenPat77 to Codevelop Humanized Therapeutic Antibodies Against Immune Modulatory Targets
Medarex, Inc. and GenPat77 Pharmacogenetics AG have entered into a collaborative agreement to develop fully human therapeutic antibody products...
Thursday Aug 31, 2006
Genizon Grants Exclusive License for Crohn's Disease GeneMap to Genentech
Genizon BioSciences, a gene and drug target discovery company, announced a license and collaboration agreement with Genentech, Inc. under which Genizon granted Genentech an exclusive license to Genizon's GeneMap of disease-associated genes generated from a whole genome association study of Crohn's disease patients from the Quebec Founder Population...
Wednesday Aug 30, 2006
Joint Distraction May Delay Need for Joint Replacement in Advanced Osteoarthritis
Temporarily stretching knees or ankles a bit to take the load off cartilage and subchondral bone promotes healing, reduces pain, improves function, and might help some osteoarthritis patients defer or even avoid total joint replacement...
Tuesday Aug 29, 2006
Histogenics Raises $13.1 Million to Advance Its Cartilage and Orthopedic Tissue Regeneration Technologies
Histogenics Corporation announced that it has raised $13.1 million in Series A-1 financing to be used to advance NeoCart®, its lead investigational product, into phase II clinical trials...
Monday Aug 28, 2006
Etanercept Maintains Clinical Benefit for Patients Who Must Drop Infliximab
Patients who respond to infliximab but must discontinue due to side effects maintain clinical benefit if switched to etanercept...
Monday Aug 28, 2006
GlaxoSmithKline and ChemoCentryx Establish Worldwide Strategic Alliance to Develop Therapies for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases; ChemoCentryx May Pocket More Than $1.5 Billion, Raises $17.7 Million in Series C Financing
GlaxoSmithKline and ChemoCentryx, Inc., a company focused on orally-administered, small-molecule therapeutics that target the chemokine and chemoattractant receptor systems, announced a worldwide multitarget strategic alliance to discover, develop, and market novel medicines targeting four chemokine and chemoattractant receptors for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), acute macular degeneration, and asthma...
Thursday Aug 24, 2006
Merck's Investigational Selective COX-2 Inhibitor, ARCOXIA (Etoricoxib), for Arthritis and Pain Yields Mixed Clinical Results Against the NSAID Diclofenac
Merck & Co, Inc. announced preliminary analyses of the MEDAL (Multinational Etoricoxib and Diclofenac Arthritis Long-Term) program study as showing the rate of confirmed thrombotic cardiovascular (CV) events to be similar between the selective COX-2 inhibitor ARCOXIAâ„¢ (the planned successor to Vioxx) and diclofenac, the most widely prescribed traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Monday Aug 21, 2006
Osiris IPO Raises $38.5 Million to Advance Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapies
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. announced that underwriters sold 3.5 million shares of its common stock at a price of $11.00 per share, achieving the lower end of the targeted share price for its initial public offering and raising $38.5 million.
Friday Aug 18, 2006
OA Radiography Correlates Well with Knee Pain, New Study Shows
A new study of radiographic changes in patients with knee pain finds a consistent association between pain severity, stiffness, and physical function and the presence of radiographic osteoarthritis. .... Duncan R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 July 28; [Epub ahead of print]
Friday Aug 18, 2006
Merck Loses in Latest Vioxx Decisions
Merck lost in federal court and had a win in state court reversed in the latest round of Vioxx litigation.
Wednesday Aug 16, 2006
Biogen Idec and University of Adelaide Find TWEAK Is a Novel Arthritogenic Mediator; Potential New Pathway in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Disease Process
Biogen Idec announced studies published in the August 15, 2006, issue of the providing evidence that TWEAK (TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis), a TNF family member, is a novel arthritogenic mediator that contributes to joint tissue inflammation, angiogenesis, and destruction, and may inhibit endogenous repair.
Friday Aug 11, 2006
Fish Oil Reduces CV Risk Factors, NSAID Requirements in RA Patients
Two tablespoons of fish oil per day significantly improved some cardiovascular risk factors and reduced NSAID requirements in patients with rheumatoid arthritis... Cleland LG, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 Aug 01; [Epub ahead of print]
Thursday Aug 10, 2006
Michigan Researchers to Study ACL Injuries, Bone Bruises, in Knee OA
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in young athletes and often lead to later knee osteoarthritis (OA). A new prospective study will try to determine whether bone bruises add to that risk.
Tuesday Aug 08, 2006
Geron and University of Edinburgh to Collaborate in Conducting Preclinical Studies with Cell Types Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Musculoskeletal Applications
Geron Corporation and the University of Edinburgh announced that they have entered into a collaboration to conduct preclinical safety and efficacy studies with three cell types derived from human embryonic stem cells.
Thursday Aug 03, 2006
British Registry Data Show Safety of First-Trimester TNF Inhibitor Exposure, Safety of Later Use Still Unclear
Data from a British registry of TNF inhibitor users suggest that brief exposure to TNF inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy is not harmful either to women who inadvertently become pregnant while taking these drugs or to their babies, but raise questions about safety in later pregnancy... Hyrich KL, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2701-2702.
Wednesday Aug 02, 2006
Fear of Pain Robs Arthritis Patients of Chance for Pain-Relieving Exercise
Fear of pain is a major reason people with arthritis avoid exercise, and many are unaware that regular exercise can reduce pain and prevent disability. …Wilcox, S, et al. Arthritis Care Res. August 2006; DOI: 10.1002/art.22098
Wednesday Aug 02, 2006
Schering AG Obtains Mixed Results From Two Clinical Trials of Sargramostim for Crohn's Disease: Phase III Fails to Achieve Primary End Points; Phase II Meets Primary and Secondary Endpoints
Schering AG, Germany announced results from two recently completed multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical studies of sargramostim for the treatment of Crohn's disease.
Friday Jul 28, 2006
Serono Initiates First Large-Scale European Pharmaco-Epidemiologic Study to Gather Additional Safety Data on RaptivaR in Psoriasis
Serono announced that it has initiated a prospective 7-year cohort, multi-national, multicenter study in more than 7000 adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who have been treated with RaptivaR (efalizumab).
Thursday Jul 20, 2006
Actelion's Orally Active Selective S1P1 Receptor Agonist to be Jointly Developed/Promoted with Roche in Autoimmune Disorders and Transplantation; Deal Potentially Worth Well Over US$630 Million to Actelion
Actelion Ltd and Roche have announced that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize Actelion's selective S1P1 receptor agonist, an immunomodulator with the potential for once-a-day oral dosing. testing.
Wednesday Jul 19, 2006
Metabolic Syndrome Correlates With High Disease Activity in RA
Metabolic syndrome correlates with higher disease severity in RA. Karvounaris SA, et al. Ann Rheum Dis; published online June 22, 2006.
Friday Jul 14, 2006
Researchers Map the Genetic Substrate of RA
Two new reports on genetics and RA show that a mutation in the PTPN22 gene not only increases RA susceptibility but hastens disease progression and that development of RA is associated with altered expression of disease-associated genes, apparently in response to environmental or other nongenetic factors. Lie B, et al. EULAR 2006; Haas CS, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2047-2060.
Friday Jul 07, 2006
Infliximab Resistance, Infusion Reactions Linked to Immune Complex Formation
RA patients who do not respond to infliximab are likely to have infliximab/anti-infliximab immune complexes due to high levels of human antichimeric antibodies, and very large immune complexes may play a role in infliximab infusion reactions....van der Laken CJ, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006; epub ahead of print.
Thursday Jul 06, 2006
Fetal DNA in Maternal Serum Linked to RA Improvement in Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related improvements in RA disease activity parallel the levels of fetal DNA in maternal serum, suggesting a possible vaccine strategy …Yan Z, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2069-2073.
Friday Jun 30, 2006
NEJM Vioxx Correction Casts Doubt on Short-Term Safety
A correction in the July 13 New England Journal of Medicine throws out the the original APPROVe study conclusion that Vioxx-related cardiovascular risk increases only after 18 months of use and casts doubt on the implied safety of briefer exposure. N Engl J Med. July 13, 2005 available at www.nejm.org.
Friday Jun 30, 2006
Consider Disease Duration in Comparing Functional Outcomes of RA Treatment
Measures of physical function such as the HAQ become less responsive to treatment effects with increasing duration of RA, so disease duration should be considered in comparing functional outcomes of different treatments...Aletaha D. 2006 EULAR Meeting.
Tuesday Jun 27, 2006
Wyeth Submits NDA to FDA for Bazedoxifene, an Osteoporosis Drug Candidate; Ligand Pharmaceuticals Earns Milestone Payment
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (MADISON, N.J.) and Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (SAN DIEGO, Calif.) separately announced that Wyeth has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US FDA for the approval of bazedoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Monday Jun 26, 2006
Lupus Treatment Moving "From Serendipity to Sense"
Lupus research has had a very good year... Isenberg DA. EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21-24, 2006; Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Abstract SP0139.
Saturday Jun 24, 2006
New Imaging Methods Show Ligament Damage Is the First Stage of Hand OA
New, high-resolution MRI and PET imaging are bringing the details of hand OA into focus, and show that changes in ligaments are the first signs of disease... Tan AL. 2006 EULAR Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract SP0060.
Saturday Jun 24, 2006
Doctors Urged to Recognize Toll RA Takes on Patient's Sex Life
Health practitioners should be willing to provide information about sexual aids and positions that will allow patients with rheumatoid arthritis to continue to enjoy a healthy sex life without risking joint pain or damage... Helland Y, et al. EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract OP0134.
Friday Jun 23, 2006
Tocilizumab Hot New Treatment for Rheumatoid Disorders
The interleukin-6 receptor blocker tocilizumab (Actemra®; Chugai/Roche) emerged at the 2006 EULAR meeting as one of the hottest new prospects for the treatment of rheumatoid disorders... Nishimoto N, et al. 2006 EULAR Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Friday Jun 23, 2006
Rituximab Inhibits Progression of Joint Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rituximab plus MTX significantly slows joint damage in RA... Keystone E, et al. 2006 EULAR Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Wednesday Jun 21, 2006
Thalidomide, IL-6 Inhibitors Seen As Possible Treatments in JIA
Thalidomide, IL-6 receptor inhibitors, and genomics were highlights of the overview of JIA presented by Patricia Woo, MD, at the 2006 EULAR Meeting...
Wednesday Jun 21, 2006
EULAR Fibromyalgia Recommendations Surprisingly Upbeat
Far from being a hard-to-treat condition, fibromyalgia is yielding to a whole range of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies, according to a review presented by Ernest H. Choy, MD, at the 2006 EULAR Meeting...
Tuesday Jun 20, 2006
Nastech Receives $7 Million Milestone Payment From P&G; Will Make and Supply to P&G PTH1-34 Nasal Spray for Osteoporosis
Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc, of Bothell, Washington, announced the receipt of a $7 million payment for attaining a development milestone under its development and commercialization agreement with Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Inc, pertaining to parathyroid hormone (PTH1-34) nasal spray for the treatment of osteoporosis...
Tuesday Jun 20, 2006
Crescent Diagnostics Raises US$1 Million to Advance the Development of its Novel Bone Quality Testâ„¢ as a Surrogate Marker for Bone Structure
Crescent Diagnostics Ltd, of London, UK, and Limerick, Ireland, announced the completion of a US$1 million funding round led by Seroba BioVentures, a Dublin-based specialist life science venture capital firm...
Wednesday Jun 14, 2006
MRI Reveals Little in Low Back Pain
Routine use of MRI in early episodes of low back pain is probably a mistake... Carragee E. Presented at: American Pain Society 25th Annual Meeting; May 3–6, 2006; San Antonio, Tex.
Monday Jun 12, 2006
Intercept's Agonist of the Farnesoid X Bile Acid Receptor May Have Utility As IBD Treatment
Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc, announced new data presented at the Digestive Disease Week annual meeting, highlighting the role of the farnesoid X bile acid receptor (FXR) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)...
Monday Jun 12, 2006
Galapagos and GSK Form Drug Discovery and Development Alliance in Osteoarthritis
Galapagos NV, of Mechelen, Belgium, and GlaxoSmithKline announced a drug discovery and development alliance in OA...
Monday Jun 05, 2006
New Treatment for Lupus Brought to (UVA-1) Light
Sunlight can trigger exacerbations of systemic lupus erythematosus, but the long-wave ultraviolet A-1 light can normalize some immune function in lupus patients, and should be considered for therapeutic use... Pavel S. Rheumatology. 2006;45:653-655.
Monday Jun 05, 2006
Meta-Analysis Shows Increased CV Risk for Coxibs and NSAIDs—Except Naproxen
A major new meta-analysis shows significantly higher vascular risk for selective COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs) and for most traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but also supports the contention that naproxen has some protective effects... Kearney PM, et al. Brit Med J. 2006;332:1302-1305.
Wednesday May 24, 2006
ImmuPharma's IPP-201101 Lupus Drug Completes Phase I, Moves into Phase II Trial
ImmuPharma, based in London, UK, announced the successful completion of a placebo-controlled phase I clinical study of its new treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus...
Monday May 22, 2006
MTX Plus Steroid Injection Into Joints Helps Control Early RA
Combining MTX with intraarticular steroids provides prompt control of early RA... Hetland ML, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1401-1409.
Wednesday May 17, 2006
Avidia Raises $43.8 Million in Series C Financing to Advance Its Lead Avimerâ„¢ Drugs for Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases
Avidia, Inc, announced that it has raised $43.8 million in a Series C financing round...
Tuesday May 16, 2006
Low-Dose Prednisone Durably Slows Joint Damage in Early RA
Two years of low-dose prednisone slows radiographic progression in early RA and appears to change the course of the disease... Jacobs JW, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 54:1422-1428.
Thursday May 11, 2006
"Fossil Virus" Footprints Found in RA
Human endogenous K10 retroviruses, the residue of infections from generations past, are significantly more active in rheumatoid arthritis patients than in osteoarthritis patients or normal controls and might contribute to the development of autoimmune disease... Ejtehadi HD, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:612-616.
Monday May 08, 2006
Additional Neuropathies Linked to TNF Inhibitors
Guillain-Barré syndrome, demyelinating and axonal neuropathies, and a central nervous system syndrome have been reported recently in patients treated with TNF inhibitors... Shin I-SJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1429-1434; Jarand J, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006;33:1018-1020.
Monday May 08, 2006
Array BioPharma Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of Its MEK Inhibitor for Inflammatory Disease
Array BioPharma Inc, of Boulder, Colorado, announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial in the US for its proprietary small-molecule novel MEK inhibitor, ARRY-438162, for the treatment of inflammatory disease...
Thursday May 04, 2006
CV Risk With Vioxx Rises in First 60 Days
Rofecoxib (Vioxx) increases the risk of cardiovascular events, typically within the first 60 days of use, while naproxen reduces such risk, and other coxibs and nonselective NSAIDs have no effect... Solomon DH, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1378-1389.
Wednesday May 03, 2006
FivePrime Inks Research and License Deal With Boehringer Ingelheim to Discover New Therapeutics to Treat RA and Other Diseases
FivePrime Therapeutics, Inc, of San Francisco, California, announced a 2-year collaborative research and license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim...
Monday May 01, 2006
Rituximab Shown to Be Effective Without Steroids in DANCER Study
Two doses of rituximab were shown to be equally effective when added to methotrexate in patients with DMARD-resistant RA, and glucocorticoids did not increase the benefit... Emery P, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1390-1400.
Thursday Apr 27, 2006
Rheumatologists Rely on Swollen Joint Counts When Deciding to Change RA Therapy
Rheumatologists rely on swollen joint count, morning stiffness, and CRP levels when deciding to change RA therapy... Soubrier M, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 Apr 15; [Epub ahead of print]
Wednesday Apr 26, 2006
Infliximab Suspected of Worsening Rare MTX Lung Problem
Interstitial pneumonitis occurs in less than 1% of patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), but a recent case report suggests that adding infliximab might increase lung toxicity risk in certain vulnerable patients... Villeneuve E, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 Apr 15; [Epub ahead of print]
Wednesday Apr 26, 2006
TNF-alpha Inhibitors Increase Postop Infection Risk in RA Patients
The first systematic investigation linking TNF inhibitor therapy in RA to postoperative infections suggests that clinicians should consider interrupting anti-TNF treatment prior to orthopaedic surgery procedures... Giles JT, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;55:333-337
Tuesday Apr 11, 2006
Biogen Idec to Sell Worldwide Rights to Its Psoriasis Drug Amevive to Astellas for $60 Million
Astellas Pharma US, Inc, of Deerfield, Illinois, and Biogen Idec Inc, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced an agreement for Astellas to purchase the worldwide rights, in all indications, to Amevive® (alefacept)...
Tuesday Apr 11, 2006
UK Regulatory Authority's Interim Report Concludes That the Serious AEs Caused by TeGenero's Investigational Superagonistic Anti-CD28 Antibody Were Triggered by an "Unpredicted Biological Action of the Drug in Humans"
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK regulatory authority responsible for clinical trial approval, found in its interim report that
the serious adverse events (AEs) (collectively labeled "cytokine release syndrome")...
Tuesday Apr 04, 2006
New Research Suggests That the Psoriasis Susceptibility I (PSORS1) Gene Has Been Identified
Previous studies have narrowed the interval containing PSORS1 to a 300-kilobase (kb)region in the major histocompatibility locus (MHC), which includes HLA-C and at least 10 other genes. New evidence suggests that HLA-Cw6 is the PSORS1 allele that confers susceptibility to early-onset psoriasis... Nair RP, et al. Am J Hum Genetics. 2006;78:827-851.
Monday Apr 03, 2006
Galapagos NV and Arthrogen BV Enter Gene Therapy Target Discovery Alliance for RA
Galapagos NV, of Mechelen, Belgium, announced that its service division, BioFocus, has entered into a 3-year target discovery alliance...
Monday Mar 27, 2006
EntreMed's 2ME2 Continues to Yield Positive Data in Preclinical Models of RA, Further Supporting the Potential for 2ME2 as a DMARD
EntreMed, Inc, of Rockville, Maryland, announced at the Inflammation and Immune Diseases Drug Discovery and Development Summit held this month in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that daily oral administration (100 mg/kg) of its lead compound, 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2)...
Tuesday Mar 21, 2006
Spin-Lock (T1RHO) MRI May Be More Effective at Measuring Early Stages of Disc Degeneration
Spin-lock (T1RHO) magnetic resonance imaging may be more effective than other imaging technologies as a quantitative measure of early intervertebral disc degeneration... Johannessen W, et al. Presented at: 52nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society; March 18–22, 2006; Chicago, Ill. Abstract 16.
Monday Mar 20, 2006
Single Injection of GDF-5 May Repair Degenerated Discs
A single injection of recombinant human growth and differentiation factor (GDF-5) may induce recovery of intravertebral disc height... Presented at: 52nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society; March 18–22, 2006; Chicago, Ill. Abstract 14.
Wednesday Mar 15, 2006
Argos Licenses Antibody Technology for SLE to Novo Nordisk
Argos Therapeutics, of Durham, North Carolina, and Novo Nordisk, of Copenhagen, Denmark, announced an agreement under which Argos has licensed antibody technology...
Monday Mar 06, 2006
Trubion Eligible to Receive Over $800 Million in Milestone Payments From Wyeth in Strategic Alliance to Co-develop and Commercialize Trubion's SMIPâ„¢ Technology for Inflammatory Disease and Cancer
Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Seattle, Washington, and Wyeth of Madison, New Jersey, announced that they have formed a strategic alliance for the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel SMIPâ„¢ biologics...
Wednesday Mar 01, 2006
Effects of IV Steroids for Treatment of Acute Sciatica Are Transient
Intravenous steroids reduce pain in patients with severe acute discogenic sciatica, although the improvement is small and transient... Finckh A, et al. Spine. 2006;31:377-381.
Wednesday Mar 01, 2006
Cerimon Pharmaceuticals Acquires Exclusive Worldwide Rights to IBD Treatment From Novartis
Cerimon Pharmaceuticals Inc, of San Francisco, California, announced that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Novartis Pharmaceutical's Simulect®...
Wednesday Mar 01, 2006
Biosystems International Collaborates in Two Biomarker Programs
BioSystems International, of Evry, France, announced a collaborative agreement with AstraZeneca...
Wednesday Mar 01, 2006
CombinatoRx Drops Its Phase IIa Oral Product Candidate (CRx-140) for Psoriasis; Drug Candidate CRx-102 Demonstrates Positive Phase II Study Results in Hand Osteoarthritis
CombinatoRx Inc, of Boston, Massachusetts, announced the discontinuance of its phase IIa drug candidate, CRx-140...
Thursday Feb 23, 2006
Roche Initiates Clinical Study for Bone-Related Disease Using Emisphere's Oral Formulation Drug Delivery (Eligen®) Technology
Emisphere Technologies, Inc, of Tarrytown, New York, announced that it has received an undisclosed payment from Roche Pharmaceuticals...
Thursday Feb 23, 2006
GAIT Results Show No Benefit of Glucosamine With Chondroitin for Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination did not reduce pain in the overall group of patients with knee osteoarthritis, although the supplements in combination may be effective in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe pain... Clegg DO, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:795-808.
Tuesday Feb 21, 2006
TNF Inhibitors May Benefit Refractory Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of some cases of refractory dermatomyositis and polymyositis... Efthimiou P, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. [serial online]. February 13, 2006; doi.10.1136/ard.2005.048744.
Thursday Feb 16, 2006
Infliximab Effective Treatment for Refractory Childhood Uveitis
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition is effective for treatment of childhood uveitis refractory to standard immunosuppressive therapy... Saurenmann RK, et al. Rheumatology Advance Access. February 3, 2006.doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ke1030.
Monday Feb 13, 2006
QuatRx Files for $86.25 Million IPO, Seeks Partner for Phase IIb Trial of Vitamin D Analogue for Psoriasis
QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Co of Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced that it has filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission...
Monday Feb 13, 2006
AnGes MG and Seikagaku End Joint Development Program for NFkB Decoy-Oligo-Based Intraarticular Injection for RA and OA
AnGes MG, Inc, headquartered in Osaka, Japan, and Seikagaku Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, announced that they have agreed to end their joint development program of NF-kappa B...
Thursday Feb 09, 2006
Low-Dose Prednisone Increases Risk of Pneumonia in RA Patients
New research showing a dose-related relationship between prednisone use and pneumonia risk in rheumatoid arthritis calls into question the commonly held belief that low-dose prednisone is safe... Wolfe F, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:628-634.
Wednesday Feb 08, 2006
Etanercept in Combination with Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine, or Gold Is Safe and Effective Treatment for RA
Etanercept in combination with sulphasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, or intramuscular gold is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. O'Dell JR, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006;33:213-218.
Monday Feb 06, 2006
Archus Orthopedics Raises $35 Million in Series C Financing
Archus Orthopedics, Inc, of Redmond, Washington, announced that it has closed a $35 million round of Series C financing...
Monday Feb 06, 2006
NovImmune Files IND Application in Netherlands for Fully Human Antibody Against CD3 for Autoimmune Disease
Medarex, Inc, of Princeton, NJ, has announced the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the Netherlands by its licensing partner, NovImmune SA of Geneva, Switzerland, for NI-0401...
Wednesday Jan 25, 2006
Insurance Coverage May Influence How TNF-Alpha Inhibitors Are Prescribed
A new observational study of the TNF-α inhibitors infliximab and etanercept has found that Medicare patients with RA are 30% more likely to receive infliximab than those covered by private insurance, findings that suggest that reimbursement policies may drive physicians' prescribing decisions independent of efficacy. However, the emergence of Medicare Part D prescription coverage may change prescribing behavior to favor self-injectable drugs... DeWitt EM, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:57-63.
Wednesday Jan 18, 2006
Combination of cDNA Expression Library and Whatman Protein Microarray Technology Led to Identification of Potential Autoantigens in the Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata
Whatman, plc (Middlesex, UK), and Protagen, AG (Dortmund, Germany), have issued a joint statement announcing that the combination of two promising technologies...
Thursday Jan 12, 2006
Three Months of Bosentan Therapy Improves Function in SSc-PAH Patients
Three Months of Bosentan Therapy Improves Function in SSc-PAH Patients
Tuesday Jan 10, 2006
Federal Court Rules Lilly Breached Agreement with Emisphere Regarding Oral Formulation of Forteo® for Osteoporosis; Lilly turns to Alkermes for Development of Inhaled Version
Emisphere Technologies, Inc, of Tarrytown, NY, announced that a Federal District Court judge ruled that Eli Lilly and Company had violated an agreement with Emisphere regarding the use of Emisphere's Eligen technology for the development of an oral formulation of Forteo® ...
Thursday Dec 22, 2005
TolerRX Initiates Phase Ib Trials of Novel Antibody Therapies for Psoriasis and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
TolerRX, Inc, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced the initiation of a phase Ib study of the monoclonal antibody TRX4 in patients with moderate-to-severe...
Tuesday Dec 20, 2005
Radius Acquires Ipsen's Parathyroid Hormone–Related Protein Analog for Osteoporosis
Radius (Cambridge, Mass) has acquired from Ipsen the exclusive worldwide rights (excluding Japan) to the drug BA058...
Tuesday Dec 20, 2005
KineMed Develops Assays for In Vivo Measurements of Cell and Matrix Molecule Turnover in OA
KineMed, Inc, of Emeryville, California, has announced that its proprietary stable isotope labeling and ultrasensitive mass spectrometry techniques have enabled researchers to measure cell proliferation...
Wednesday Dec 14, 2005
New England Journal of Medicine Editors Call for Correction of VIGOR Trial
In response to the revelation that three additional myocardial infarctions were withheld from the original Vioxx® GI Outcomes Research (VIGOR) trial submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine, the editors of the journal have called into question the integrity of the data and requested that the authors submit a correction to account for the "inaccuracies and deletions" in the original published article...Curfman GD, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2813-2814.
Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Domantis Raises $29 Million in Series B Financing to Advance Its Human Domain Antibody (dAb) Therapeutics
Domantis Ltd has announced the acquisition of $29 million in series B financing from existing investors as well as new investors Novo Nordisk and MC Life Science Ventures...
Wednesday Nov 30, 2005
Pfizer to Pay Up to $803 Million for Incyte CCR2 Antagonists for Chronic Inflammation
Pfizer Inc and Incyte Corporation have entered into a global collaborative research and license agreement...
Tuesday Nov 29, 2005
Leading Rheumatologists Sound Off on Limitations of GAIT Study
The initial results of the $14 million National Institutes of Health Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial failed to show any real benefit for patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, leaving many rheumatologists in a quandary about what they should tell patients regarding the use of these readily available supplements... Clegg DO, et al. Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 622.
Tuesday Nov 22, 2005
RA Patients Less Likely to Take Prophylactic Aspirin Despite Increased MI Risk
Despite a growing body of evidence suggesting that the inflammation that is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases a patient's risk of myocardial infarction or stroke, RA patients are less likely to take prophylactic aspirin than RA-free controls. These findings call attention to the need for rheumatologists to address this discrepancy in care... Presented at: the 69th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 1904.
Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
Long-Term Follow-Up Results Show Durable RA Responses with Abatacept
Abatacept, the selective co-stimulation modulator of T-cell activation, has demonstrated sustained clinical benefit during 18 months of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had inadequate responses to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) therapy... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.
Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
REFLEX Trial Demonstrates Efficacy of Rituximab in RA Resistant to Anti-TNF Therapy
Rituximab, an anti-CD20+ B-cell-targeted monoclonal antibody with an established therapeutic record in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, has shown statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) therapy... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.
Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
Chromos to Acquire Target Molecules Corporation and Its Anti-VLA-2 Product Candidate for Inflammatory Diseases; Complete a $6–10 Million Private Placement
Chromos Molecular Systems Inc of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, has announced that it will acquire Target Molecules Corporation of San Diego, California, a privately held biotechnology company with two preclinical stage antibody product candidates, including TMC-2003
Tuesday Nov 15, 2005
Despite Demonstrated Efficacy of Anti-TNF Therapies, Many Patients Stop Treatment
While biologic therapies targeted against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have built a "satisfactory" track record in rheumatologic conditions, this emerging standard of care is still marked by a loss of efficacy over time and the withdrawal of patients from their initial therapy, indicating a need for improvement... Presented at: 69th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.
Tuesday Nov 15, 2005
Thalidomide Shows Promise in Refractory Systemic Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Thalidomide improves systemic clinical features, lab parameters, and joint symptoms in most patients with refractory systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (So-JIA), but caution is urged due to possible neurologic side effects... Badot V, et al. Presented at: 69th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.
Sunday Nov 13, 2005
Targeted Anti-Cytokine Therapies Emerging as the Future of RA Treatment
Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockade is the new standard of care for patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other targeted therapies—including abatacept, B-cell-depleting agents, and anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal receptor antibodies—are emerging to fill the unmet needs of RA patients ... Maini R. Presented at: 69th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.
Monday Oct 31, 2005
Meta-Analysis Points to the Need to Customize Treatment for Subtypes of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
With the increased recognition that radiologic joint and cartilage damage occurs earlier in the course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis than originally thought, a recently released literature review underlines the importance of taking a customized approach to treatment of the disease. However, despite treatment advances, researchers argue that there is no evidence-based consensus on the optimal treatment regimen for several subtypes of JIA. Hashkes PJ, Laxer RM. JAMA. 2005;294:1671-1684.
Monday Oct 24, 2005
Studies Outline Weaknesses of DAS28 as Rheumatoid Arthritis Assessment Tool
Two new studies add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the disease activity score-28 (DAS28), a tool often used to determine the intensity of antirheumatic therapy, is not an appropriate gauge of remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Monday Oct 24, 2005
Endogenous Opioids May Not Be Effective in Chronic Pain
Activating endogenous opioids may not be an effective way to treat chronic pain, according to an experimental study in male rats with chronic- and acute-induced arthritis. Li Z, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3210-3219.
Tuesday Oct 18, 2005
Fatigue in Lupus Linked to Depression and Pain, but Often Missed by Standard Disease Assessment Tools
New research suggests that depression, pain, and perceived lack of social support are often-overlooked predictors of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—findings that may lead to a better understanding of psychosocial factors and a more specific therapeutic target for the treatment of this debilitating disease... Jump RL, et al. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:1699-1705.
Thursday Oct 06, 2005
Regeneron Discontinues IL-1 Trap Program in Adult RA
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Tarrytown, NY), a biopharmaceutical company with therapeutic candidates in clinical trials for the potential treatment of cancer, age-related eye diseases, and inflammatory diseases, announced...
Thursday Oct 06, 2005
New Study Results Suggest That Two Courses of Parathyroid Hormone May Reduce Fracture Risk in Patients with Severe Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis patients who remain at high risk for fracture despite a course of parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy may benefit from a second discrete course of PTH . . . Presented at: 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; September 23–27, 2005; Nashville, Tenn. Presentation 1079.
Monday Oct 03, 2005
Cytori Therapeutics Reports Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Adult Stem Cells to Spinal Disc
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc, along with its collaborators, released data demonstrating that human adipose-derived adult stem cells have the potential to differentiate into cells with the phenotypic traits and DNA expression markers of mature nucleus pulposus cells...
Thursday Sep 29, 2005
Long-Term Bisphosphonate Therapy Remains an Unresolved Issue
Despite concerns about long-term bisphosphonate therapy resulting in the continued suppression of bone turnover and inhibition of normal repair and replacement of damaged bone, recent clinical trials suggest that treatment for up to 10 years is not harmful ... Presented at: 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; September 23-25, 2005; Nashville, Tenn.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2005
The XtremeCT May Be More Sensitive than DEXA in Predicting Fracture Risks
A new high-resolution imaging device, the XtremeCT, which measures both bone density and bone architecture, may have significant advantages over the current gold standard, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)...Boutroy S, et al. Presented at: 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; September 23-27, 2005; Nashville, Tenn. Abstract SA360.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
Mesoblast Limited to Start Human Orthopaedic Trial Using Adult Stem Cell Technology
Mesoblast Limited of Melbourne, Australia, a biotechnology company that develops adult mesenchymal precursor stem cell technology for the regeneration and repair of bone and cartilage, has announced...
Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
Researchers Report Promising Findings on Biomarkers for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and OA
New research has uncovered biomarkers that serve as both diagnostic "fingerprints" for the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis and predictors for osteoarthritis (OA) progression... Presented at: 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; September 23-27, 2005; Nashville, Tennessee.
Friday Sep 23, 2005
FDA Issues "Non-Approvable Letter" for Pfizer's Injectable COX-2 Drug
Just 1 week after receiving a nonapprovable letter for their new osteoporosis drug lasofoxifene (Oporia), Pfizer Inc announced Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a nonapprovable letter for parecoxib sodium, an injectable COX-2 inhibitor used to treat acute pain in the postsurgical setting... Pfizer receives FDA non-approvable letter on parecoxib [press release]. PR Newswire; September 20, 2005.
Thursday Sep 22, 2005
US FDA Issues Nonapprovable Letter for Pfizer's Injectable COX-2 Inhibitor
A nonapprovable letter from the US Food and Drug Administration was received by Pfizer Inc for parecoxib sodium, an injectable COX-2 inhibitor used to treat acute pain after surgery...
Monday Sep 19, 2005
A Leading Rheumatologist Reflects on How Cyclooxygenase Became a Household Word
Just as it appeared that the dust from the great COX-2 controversies had begun to settle, a jury in Texas awarded a plaintiff a judgment against Merck & Co for one quarter of a billion dollars - indeed, for a death that, arguably, was not Vioxx-related.
Friday Sep 16, 2005
Pfizer's SERM Lasofoxifene Not Approvable by US FDA
In a brief announcement, Pfizer Inc disclosed that it has received a nonapprovable letter...
Friday Sep 16, 2005
Abatacept Beneficial to Patients with RA Refractory to TNF-α Inhibitors
Abatacept has shown benefit to rheumatoid arthritis patients with inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind study...Genovese MC, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:1114-1123.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2005
ISTO Completes $10.8 Million Package to Finance Cartilage-Regeneration Therapies
ISTO Technologies, Inc, a St. Louis–based orthobiologics company, has completed a $10.8 million financing package led by Zimmer Holdings Inc...
Friday Sep 09, 2005
Preliminary Data on Genelabs' Prestaraâ„¢ Show Positive Effects on BMD in SLE Patients Taking Glucocorticoids
Genelabs Technologies, Inc, of Redwood City, California, has announced positive results from a preliminary analysis
Tuesday Sep 06, 2005
Aromatase Inhibitors Linked to Arthralgias
With increasing use of aromatase inhibitors as both a breast cancer treatment and preventive agent, rheumatologists should be aware of associated joint pain and musculoskeletal aching... Felson DT, Cummings SR. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2594-2598.
Monday Aug 29, 2005
Research Clarifies Mechanisms of Self-Tolerance by Natural Killer Cells
New murine research depicting how natural killer cells mature in a healthy immune system may yield clues as to what goes awry in autoimmune disorders. Kim S, et al. Nature. 2005;436:709-713
Monday Aug 29, 2005
Is There a Role for TNF Inhibitors in Refractory Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus?
New research demonstrating expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in refractory subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) skin lesions suggests a possible role for TNF blockade in the treatment of this disease. Zampieri S, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. August 11, 2005. [Epub ahead of print]
Monday Aug 08, 2005
Velcura Receives $1.3 Million SBIR Grant for New Osteoporosis Drugs
Velcura Therapeutics®, Inc, a biotechnology company focused on developing drugs for bone diseases, received a $1.3 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute on Aging, of the National Institutes of Health, to use proteomics-based drug discovery in human osteoblasts to identify bone disease biomarkers and targets, and develop new drugs that stimulate bone formation.
Wednesday Jul 27, 2005
Nastech Granted License to Develop RNAi Therapeutics Against TNF-α
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has granted Nastech Pharmaceutical Company, Inc, of Bothell, Washington, an exclusive license to its InterfeRx intellectual property portfolio in order to discover, develop, and commercialize RNAi (RNA interference) therapeutics directed against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a regulatory protein associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Monday Jul 25, 2005
Government Crackdown on Palladone and Fentanyl Continues to Fuel Fear of Prescribing Pain Medication
Withdrawal of Palladone in the US, the advisory report issued on the fentanyl patch, and the continued DEA scrutiny of doctors who prescribe opioids and other narcotic analgesics may have a chilling effect on the optimal use of these agents for the relief of acute and persistent pain.
Tuesday Jul 12, 2005
Amgen, Massachusetts General Hospital in Enbrel Royalty Dispute
The Boston Globe reported that litigation might be filed to resolve a dispute between Amgen Inc and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston regarding royalty payments received by the hospital that Amgen, the manufacture of Enbrel, contends are in excess of the terms of the licensing agreement.
Friday Jul 08, 2005
Weight Loss Reduces Knee Joint Load
Losing just one pound results in a four-fold reduction in knee joint load in overweight and obese patients with OA of the knee... Messier SP, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2026-2032.
Friday Jul 08, 2005
Genelabs' PrestaraTM Gains Orphan Drug Exclusivity to Prevent SLE Bone Loss
Genelabs Technologies, Inc, reported that PrestaraTM, a synthetic form of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), has been granted orphan drug exclusivity by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the
Wednesday Jul 06, 2005
Radiological Grade, High Global Assessment, and Past NSAID Use Strongly Predictive of Hip OA Joint Replacement
Patients with OA of the hip who presented with a radiological grade of III or IV, a high mean global assessment during the first 6 months, and previous treatment with NSAIDs have a stronger likelihood of undergoing total hip replacement surgery... Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:1028-1032
Thursday Jun 16, 2005
TEMPO Demonstrates Effects of TNF-α Blockade Over 3 Years
The benefits of continuous treatment with etanercept and methotrexate persist for at least 3 years, and, as more patients achieve remission, researchers' focus may turn to determining whether patients can safely discontinue TNF inhibitors...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Wednesday Jun 15, 2005
Apratastat, an Experimental Dual Acting Biologic Agent Shows Early Promise for RA
A novel, oral, small-molecule dual inhibitor of TNF-α-converting enzyme and matrix metalloproteinases has been shown in early trials to target two of the factors known to cause inflammation in RA... Fleischmann R, et al. Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Wednesday Jun 15, 2005
Alefacept in Combination With Methotrexate Evaluated for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis
A 6-month study of the memory T cell suppressor alefacept suggests that the agent will be an effective tool in the armamentarium against PsA... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Monday Jun 13, 2005
EULAR Report: Developments in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis Using TNF-α Inhibitors
Studies of low-dose regimens, the effects of discontinuation, and 52-week data from an initial study of adalimumab highlight the results presented at EULAR on the use of TNF-α inhibitors in the treatment of AS...Presented at Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Monday Jun 13, 2005
IL-6 Blocker Shows Promise in Systemic Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
More evidence emerging on the therapeutic potential of the experimental IL-6 blocker tocilizumab in the management of severe SJIA... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Friday Jun 10, 2005
Experts Discuss the Interaction Between Environmental and Genetic Risk for RA
A noted epidemiologist and rheumatologist review the multifactorial interplay between the unmodifiable genetic component of the disease and environmental risk factors that account for approximately 50% of RA incidence, and suggest that certain lifestyle modifications may lower RA risk...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Friday Jun 10, 2005
High Doses of All NSAIDs Reportedly Increase Heart Attack Risk
The largest study to date on the association between cardiovascular events and the use of NSAIDs has found that the increase in risk is not limited to selective inhibitors of COX-2, and that, in fact, some nonselective NSAIDs confer the greatest risks...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Thursday Jun 09, 2005
A Conversation at EULAR: Dr. Ricard Cervera on Biologics and Pregnancy
The preeminent immunologist comments on the increasing use of TNF-α inhibitors and other biologic drugs-particularly among women, who bear the brunt of autoimmune disease-and the concern about their potential effects on pregnancy... Cervera R. Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Thursday Jun 09, 2005
Abatacept Inhibits Structural Damage in RA Patients with Inadequate Response to Methotrexate
New studies help define and clarify potential niche for costimulation blockade in autoimmunity...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.
Thursday Jun 09, 2005
AVANIR/Novartis Agreement: Develop MIF Therapies for Inflammatory Diseases
AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, a drug discovery and development company, announced the signing of an agreement with Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp to develop orally active small molecule therapeutics targeting macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a proinflammatory cytokine that is thought to play a critical role in the pathology of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Wednesday Jun 01, 2005
More Evidence for the 'FitzGerald Hypothesis' on the Relationship of Coxibs and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Vascular remodeling may interact with a predisposition to hypertension and atherosclerosis, contributing to the gradual increase in cardiovascular risk during extended periods of treatment with COX-2 inhibitors...Rudic RD, et al. Circ Res. Published online May 19, 2005.
Thursday May 26, 2005
African-American and Hispanic Osteoarthritis Patients Less Likely Than Caucasians to Undergo Knee Replacement Surgery
These minority populations are significantly less likely to consider knee arthroplasty compared with their Caucasian counterparts regardless of health status, a finding that researchers attribute to differences in the perception of benefit, trust in the physician, and personal experience with the procedure...Suarez-Almazor ME, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1117-1124.
Thursday May 12, 2005
More Evidence for Cardiovascular Risk Among Selective and Nive Nonsteroidals
Several weeks after the US Food and Drug Administration called for sweeping changes to the labels of prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs reflecting a potential cardiovascular risk, a Danish study confirms that they increase the chances of hospitalization for MI...Johnsen SP, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:978-984.
Wednesday May 11, 2005
New Genetic Variant May Increase Risk of Inflammatory Disease
A recently identified polymorphism results in differential HLA molecule expression and is associated with susceptibility to common diseases with inflammatory components...Swanberg M, et al. Nat Genet. 2005;37:486-494.
Thursday May 05, 2005
Etanercept May Not Be Optimal for Treatment of Systemic Onset JRA
New results showing that more than 50% of SOJRA patients have a poor or limited response to etanercept suggest that alternative therapies are needed...Kimura Y, et al. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:935-942.
Thursday May 05, 2005
Presence of Parallel Neural Pain Pathways May Assist in the Management of Fibromyalgia Patients
New research among patients with fibromyalgia shows evidence of parallel, independent neural processing pathways for sensory and affective pain, a finding that may lead to better diagnosis, selection of therapeutic agents, and efficacy for the chronic pain and concomitant depression that accompany the condition... Giesecke T, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:1577-1584.
Wednesday May 04, 2005
ParAllele BioScience Collaborates on Large-scale Genetic Studies in Lupus
ParAllele BioScience Inc. will partner with Chaim Oscar Jacob, MD, associate professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, to discover genes associated with childhood-onset lupus. The collaboration combines ParAllele's Immune-Inflammation Panel, which comprises approximately 8,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from over 1,000 candidate genes related to the genetics of immunity and inflammation, with a large cohort of annotated specimens collected by Dr. Jacob from patients affected by lupus and their family members. - Nicholas K. Zittell
Tuesday May 03, 2005
African-American Women Have Lower Risk of Fractures than Caucasians Across All Levels of Bone Mineral Density
New data suggests the need for race specific normative databases to define osteoporosis...Cauley JA, et al. JAMA 2005;293:2102-2108.
Tuesday Apr 26, 2005
EMEA Approves New Spinal Fusion Indication for BMP-2
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Astellas Pharma Europe announced that dibotermin alfa/absorbable collagen sponge (rhBMP-2/ACS or InductOs®) received additional marketing authorization from the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) for the treatment of single level (L4-S1) anterior lumbar spine fusions as a substitute for autogenous bone graft in adults who have had at least 6 months of nonoperative treatment for degenerative disc disease.
Monday Apr 25, 2005
Novel Osteoinductive Molecule May Speed Fracture Healing and Enhance Spinal Fusion
A newly discovered osteoinductive protein promises greater specificity than bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)...UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science [press release]. April 21, 2005.
Monday Apr 18, 2005
Herbal Supplements Carry Risk of Adverse Interaction with Arthritis Medications
High rates of polypharmacy and comorbidity may put rheumatology patients at particularly high risk for dangerous drug interactions involving unconventional medication...Holden W, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:790.
Thursday Apr 07, 2005
FDA Orders Valdecoxib (Bextra) Withdrawn, Citing No Added Advantage
The agency also mandated black box warnings for celecoxib and stricter label warnings on traditional NSAIDs, including over-the-counter products... US Food and Drug Administration teleconference April 7, 2005.
Wednesday Apr 06, 2005
Study Links TNF Inhibitors to Dermatologic Problems in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Although a causative relationship has yet to be established, the new data put physicians on alert for a "less than major complication" Flendrie M, et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2005;7:666-676.
Monday Apr 04, 2005
Analgesic Drug Pipeline, Though Relatively Dry, Poised for Revitalization
Despite a relative paucity in the current analgesic pipeline, a greater understanding of complex pain processes, pharmacogenetics, and new diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets, including assays and biomarkers, may open the doorway to more effective therapies, as well as better use of existing treatments...Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Mass.
Friday Apr 01, 2005
Better Communication Skills May Help RA Patients Cope with Pain
Two new studies looking at stress and psychosocial functioning in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have found that individuals who have difficulty expressing their thoughts and emotions have greater disease activity and pain than their more communicative counterparts...Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Massachusetts.
Friday Apr 01, 2005
Injectable Capsaicin Formulation Safe and Effective in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients
In the search for alternatives to coxibs, traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and opioid analgesics, preliminary data suggest that injectable capsaicin is safe and well tolerated in patients with osteoarthritic knee pain, without the side effects of systemic treatments...Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Mass.
Thursday Mar 31, 2005
Lidocaine Patch May Be as Effective as Oral Medications for Improving Osteoarthritis Pain
As physicians seek alternatives to coxibs, traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids, a new study suggests that lidocaine patches may play a role in treating localized knee pain due to OA...Galer B, et al. Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Massachusetts.
Tuesday Mar 29, 2005
STAT6(B) Regulates Production of TNF-α and Other Inflammatory Cytokines
In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,1 researchers from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine report the discovery and characterization of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6(B) [STAT6(B)] a novel transcription factor that may play a role in the management of cytokine-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Friday Mar 25, 2005
Genetic Variation Helps Predict Response to Etanercept in Rheumatoid Arthritis
As the FDA takes action to speed the clinical application of pharmacogenetics, the possibility of personalized medicine for RA patients got a boost from a new study showing that a polymorphism in TNF-α affects the response to etanercept therapy...Kang CP, et al. Rheumatology. 2005;44:547-552.
Thursday Mar 24, 2005
Residencies in Orthopaedic Surgery and Other Specialties Remain Competitive in 2005 Match
The National Resident Matching Program reported a record year for the number of first-year residency positions and the number of positions filled.
Wednesday Mar 23, 2005
IL-1 Blocker Anakinra Safe and Effective in Small Study of Severe Lupus Arthritis Patients
Accumulating evidence suggests that anakinra may find a niche in IL-1-driven diseases such as juvenile arthritis, adult onset Still's disease, and severe lupus arthritis...Ostendorf B, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:630-633.
Monday Mar 21, 2005
KaloBios Raises $20 million to Advance Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc, of Palo Alto, California, a privately held company devoted to the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies and proteins, announced that it has raised $20 million in its Series B round of financing.
Friday Feb 25, 2005
The Future of Spinal Surgery: Artificial Discs and Bone Growth Factors Show Promise
PCM cervical discs, Charité lumbar discs, and BMPs demonstrate improved outcomes and greater patient satisfaction as alternatives to traditional spinal fusion surgery...72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; February 23, 2005.
Friday Feb 18, 2005
FDA Advisory Panel Votes to Keep Pfizer COX-2 Inhibitors Celecoxib and Valdecoxib on the Market
An FDA advisory panel concluded today that while safety concerns clearly exist with celecoxib and valdecoxib, their overall benefits outweigh potential CV risks... US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 18, 2005.
Friday Feb 18, 2005
Public Outcry Over Embattled Pain Relievers at FDA Advisory Panel Hearing
Some called for the withdrawal of all coxibs, while others pleaded for a return of the withdrawn rofecoxib (Vioxx) during public testimony at the FDA advisory meeting... US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 17, 2005.
Friday Feb 18, 2005
Despite Proven GI Benefits, Problems Predicted for Newest Coxibs Seeking FDA Approval
Two coxibs currently in the approval pipeline are likely to face substantial hurdles as an FDA advisory panel determines the fate of the COX-2 inhibitor class...US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 17, 2005.
Friday Feb 18, 2005
European Medicines Agency Calls Cardiovascular Risk a Class Effect of Coxibs
EMEA calls for stricter labeling and restricted use for COX-2 inhibitors... will the FDA follow suit? EMEA press release. London, UK; February 17, 2005.
Thursday Feb 17, 2005
Pfizer, Merck & Co Grapple Over Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Coxibs
With the fate of a drug class on the line, all eyes are on an FDA advisory panel as they assess the data on coxibs and make recommendations that could lead to a labeling change or their withdrawal from the market... FDA joint meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 16, 2005.
Tuesday Feb 08, 2005
Rofecoxib but not other NSAIDs Increases Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Low-Risk Elderly Population
New research is consistent with the VIGOR and APPROVe trials, which led to drug's abrupt withdrawal, and suggests that cardiovascular side effects may not be a class effect & Levesque LE, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2005; 152:1-10.
Thursday Feb 03, 2005
Crohn's Disease Patients With Attenuated Response to Infliximab May Respond to Adalimumab
Mimicking the paradigm seen with TNF-blockade in rheumatoid arthritis, preliminary data suggest that switching infliximab nonresponders to adalimumab may improve the clinical response and reduce disease activity...Papadakis KA. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100:75-79.
Monday Jan 31, 2005
New Research Highlights Generation Gap, Ethnic Divide Among Chronic Pain Patients
While African Americans experience more pain and related negative effects than do caucasians, young adults across both ethnic groups do not cope as well with chronic pain as do their older counterparts...Baker TA, Green CR. Pain Med. 2005;6:29-38.
Monday Jan 31, 2005
Genetic Discovery May Lead to New Lupus Treatments
Two newly discovered genes may help lupus researchers crack the interferon code, leading to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of SLE and to novel drug targets... Sigurdsson S, et al. Am J Hum Genet. 2005;18:76-79.
Monday Jan 24, 2005
Continuing Concerns of the Cardiovascular Risks of the COX-2s
As the European Medicines Agency is set to determine the fate of COX-2s in the European community and the US Food and Drug Administration readies for a rare advisory meeting in mid-February, the journal Circulation has presented a meta-analysis of two clinical trials that provide further evidence that valdecoxib increases cardiovascular risk in CABG patients, including a study that provides a better understanding of the mechanisms in these agents that may accelerate the atherogenic process& Egan KM, et al. Circulation. 2005; 111:334-342.
Friday Jan 21, 2005
Interpreting TARGET: Who Faces CV Risk?
Rheumatologists interviewed by CIAOMed express caution about the use of lumiracoxib and disagree with some of the interpretations of TARGET findings...Farkouh ME, et al. Lancet. 2004;364:675-684.
Wednesday Jan 19, 2005
Next Generation of Antibody-Based Designer Biologics in Development
Trubion announces first Phase I study of small modular immunopharmaceutical SMIP technology in rheumatoid arthritis…
Thursday Dec 16, 2004
Pfizer's COX-2 Agent to Include Updated Risk Warnings on Label
The FDA announces important new information on risks of CV adverse events in some postsurgical cardiac patients and potentially life-threatening skin reactions associated with use of valdecoxib...US Food and Drug Administration. December 9, 2004.
Tuesday Dec 14, 2004
Comparative Trial Analyzes MI Risk Associated With Rofecoxib and Celecoxib
A new study that examines histories of analgesic use in recent MI patients revealed a significant difference in the levels of risk for MI associated with rofecoxib and celecoxib. The study concludes that this is due not to an increase in risk associated with rofecoxib, but rather to a significant decrease in risk in patients using celecoxib&Kimmel SE, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(3).
Monday Dec 13, 2004
New Studies Confirm Efficacy and Tolerability of Once Daily Lumiracoxib for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
New clinical trials data on the efficacy and tolerability of lumiracoxib (PrexigeR) provide evidence that the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor taken 100 mg daily offers reduced pain intensity in the target knee compared to placebo while improving the functional status of patients' osteoarthritis of the knee...Lehmann R, et al. Presented at: The 9th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International; December 2-5 2004; Chicago, Illinois.
Tuesday Nov 23, 2004
Large National Survey Shows Importance of Anxiety Disorders in the Psychopathology of Pain Syndromes
Recent findings add to an emerging body of data suggesting that anxiety may have a stronger association with arthritis and other pain conditions than depression& McWilliams LA, et al. Pain. 2004;111:77-83.
Tuesday Nov 09, 2004
COX-2s, Pain Relief, and Cardiovascular Risk: Where Do We Go From Here?
In the first of a 3-part series, CIAOMed will examine possible underlying mechanisms that may be responsible for elevated cardiovascular risk in select COX-2 inhibitors and whether such explanations extend to all coxibs. Subsequent installments will examine how to manage patients in light of the new reports and the future of this frequently used drug class... Simon LS, Strand V. Cleve Clin J Med. 2004;71:849-856.
Thursday Nov 04, 2004
Next generation COX-2 Inhibitor Arcoxia Receives FDA Approvable Letter
Final approval of etoricoxib must await FDA review of additional safety and efficacy data... Baraf HSB, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; San Antonio, Tex.
Tuesday Nov 02, 2004
Patients' Readiness to Self-Manage Chronic Pain Associated With Improvement in Treatment Protocols and Coping Skills
Interventions to increase chronic pain patients' motivation is shown to increase patient engagement in pain treatment and contribute to improved long-term outcomes…Jensen MP, et al. Pain. 2004;111:84-95.
Thursday Oct 21, 2004
State-of-the-Art Lectures Reflect Pioneering Research in Rheumatology in the Past Year
The speakers highlighted new research in basic science, including genetic mechanisms at work in RA, and in clinical studies that further understanding of the efficacy of various therapeutic strategies…Barton A, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004.;50:1117-1121; Edwards JC, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:2572-2581.
Wednesday Oct 20, 2004
New Phase III Trial With Abatacept Gives Hope to Methotrexate Nonresponders
A phase III clinical trial reported that nearly half of rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving monthly injections of the T-cell inactivator abatacept achieved at least a 50% reduction in symptoms... Kremer J, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 19, 2004; San Antonio, Texas.
Tuesday Oct 19, 2004
Varus-Valgus Laxity Varies by Gender, Ethnicity in Its Association with Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)
The findings from this large epidemiologic study suggest that the causes in knee OA may differ between women and men, as well as between whites and African Americans... Sharma L, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 18, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.
Tuesday Oct 19, 2004
APPROVe Study Shows Two-Fold Increased Risk of Coronary Events with VIOXX
Cardiovascular events in the placebo arm of the trial appeared to stop occurring after 18 months, while they continued among patients taking rofecoxib, according to the first detailed report of the drug's withdrawal ...
Monday Oct 18, 2004
You Were Right! The Weather Does Affect Joint Pain
A large-scale study correlates arthritis pain with weather data finding the effect of cooler weather a weak but significant factor in pain... McAlindon TE, Formica MK, Fletcher J, Schmid S. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 18, 2004; San Antonio, Tex. Abstract 596.
Monday Oct 18, 2004
Identical Twins Have 5 Times the Risk of Joint Replacement Surgery If Their Twin Has the Procedure
Swedish researchers discover a genetic link for osteoarthritis risk, especially among identical twins, adding to previous findings that did not distinguish between heredity and shared family environment... Lohmander S, Johnell O, Pedersen NL. Poster presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 18, 2004; San Antonio, Texas . . Abstract 228.
Monday Oct 18, 2004
Genomics Research Pioneer Foresees Breakthroughs, Challenges in Gene-Targeted Therapy
The Director of the Human Genome Research Institute urges rheumatology researchers to take advantage of new technology to identify genes involved in inflammatory autoimmune diseases…
Sunday Oct 17, 2004
COX-2 Inhibitor Bextra Found to Increase Cardiac Risk in Patients Undergoing Bypass Surgery
Two weeks after Merck & Co. pulled its cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor rofecoxib (Vioxx) from the market because its use was associated with heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, Pfizer Inc. told doctors that its COX-2 inhibitor valdecoxib (Bextra) increases the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.
Wednesday Oct 13, 2004
Significant Advantages Favor Alendronate for Bone Protection
A new trial comparing 2 bisphosphonate formulations finds greater benefits with alendronate vs risedronate and no significant differences between the 2 in reported adverse events, including those associated with upper GI tolerability …Rosen C, et al. J Bone Miner Metab. 2004;19(suppl 1):S94. Abstract F412.
Tuesday Oct 12, 2004
Combination Step-Down Regimen Enhances Disease Control Over Sulfasalazine Monotherapy for RA, Without Adding Cost
A combination regimen consisting of prednisolone, methotrexate, and sulfasalazine may produce more robust clinical responses at equal or lower cost than sulfasalazine alone for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis... Korthals-de Bos I et al. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1709–1716.
Tuesday Oct 05, 2004
New Focus on Osteoporosis Risk in Men
Until recently, osteoporosis, a known health risk in postmenopausal women, has attracted scant attention as a health risk for men. Although men and women alike benefit from treatment for osteoporosis, men receive treatment far less frequently, even after fractures.
Friday Oct 01, 2004
Rofecoxib (Vioxx) Withdrawn, APPROVe Trial Discontinued Early
A study to determine the drug's value in preventing colorectal polyp recurrence showed that patients on rofecoxib had a higher risk of cardiovascular events than did those on placebo.
Thursday Sep 23, 2004
Partner Participation in RA Self-Management May Need Rethinking
(van Lankveld W. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1738-1745.)
Tuesday Sep 14, 2004
Focus Groups Show RA Patients' Views of Anti-TNF Therapy
RA patients on anti-TNF therapy have differing expectations of therapy, depending on their background and self-education. They also may experience benefits beyond those typically measured in clinical trials. (Marshall NJ, et al. Rheumatology. 2004;43:1034-1038.)
Tuesday Aug 31, 2004
Primary Care Physician Survey Shows Back Pain Highly Prevalent, Often Involves Spasm
Acute back injuries often have a spasmodic as well as an inflammatory component; treating both expedites recovery.
Monday Aug 30, 2004
Incidence of Gout Increasing; New Therapies Have Promise to Make Disease More Manageable
(Bieber JD, Terkeltaub RA, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:2400-2414.)
Wednesday Aug 25, 2004
Eighth International Scleroderma Meeting Reflects Increased Interest
Research on etiology and potential therapeutic targets were highlights of the Eighth International Workshop on Scleroderma Research.
Wednesday Jul 14, 2004
Low Dose Corticosteroid Treatment Confers No Additional Benefit When Taken with DMARDs in Early RA
Randomized, controlled trial showed that low dose prednisolone conferred no radiological or clinical benefit on patients maintained on a DMARD over two years...
Monday Jun 28, 2004
The Best Trial: Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Patients with Early RA
Results from the BeSt trial show favorable results for aggressive strategies using combination DMARDs and regimens with TNF antagonists. (De Vries-Bouwstra JW, et al. BeSt Trial Group.)
Thursday Jun 10, 2004
Pregnancy and Autoimmune Disease: Balance Risk of Disease versus Treatment to Fetus
Physicians who treat patients with autoimmune disease need to consider the risks of the disease to pregnancy and fertility as well as the treatment.
Wednesday Jun 09, 2004
Genome-wide Approaches Shed New Light on the Genetic Control of Arthritis
This session, on the opening day of EULAR 2004, revealed insight into the genetic control of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
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