Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Lupus News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/lupus/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113682.php A new treatment using a combination of drugs targeting different parts of the immune system improves the recovery rate for patients with severe lupus involving the kidneys, according to a report in the October Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). "In our study, multi-target therapy is shown to be superior to traditional therapy for inducing complete remission of class V+IV lupus nephritis, with few side effects," comments Dr. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111627.php UCB has announced that data presented recently show that epratuzumab treatment demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in moderate and severe flaring systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The data were from the first placebo-controlled studies using epratuzumab in SLE patients and were presented at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR). Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111077.php Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111035.php Ovarian function can be preserved and disease activity controlled in women with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) when treated with a 6- month course of cyclophosphamide (CYC), a chemotherapy drug, followed by the immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), according to a new study presented at EULAR 2008, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris, France. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111002.php Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with a higher percentage of ancestry from southern Europe have more severe disease manifestations, according to new research presented at EULAR 2008, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris, France. Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110199.php Research scientists and physicians - including scientific thought leaders from university centers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other government agencies - will address two important gaps impeding approval of new treatments for the autoimmune disease lupus during the Lupus Foundation of America's (LFA) 2nd International Flare Conference June 5 and 6 in suburban Washington, DC. Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110195.php ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN) announced that its partner Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, initiated a Phase 2/3 trial of atacicept in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of atacicept for the treatment of patients with SLE. The study is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tue, 20 May 2008 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/108134.php Researchers at Wake Forest University have uncovered evidence that the abnormal "editing" of gene messages in a type of white blood cell may be behind the development of lupus. Scientists hope the finding will lead to earlier diagnosis, a way to monitor patients' response to therapy and possibly a new way to treat the disease. Thu, 15 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107433.php Researchers at the University of New Hampshire Glycomics Center have helped identify a specific carbohydrate structure that confers anti-inflammatory activity to a glycoprotein antibody that could lead to improved treatment of autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The study, reported in a recent edition of the journal Science, was led by immunologist Jeffrey Ravetch of Rockefeller University. Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107124.php The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) commends the Senate on its passage of a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week that begins annually on Mother's Day. Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106172.php America's largest prize for work in medicine, amounting to half a million dollars, is shared this year by two scientists, Elizabeth Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco and Joan Streitz of Yale University, for their groundbreaking work in molecular research that opens up development of new and effective treatments for a range of diseases. Thu, 01 May 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105882.php Genentech, Inc. (NYSE:DNA) and Biogen Idec, Inc. (Nasdaq:BIIB) that a Phase II/III study of Rituxan® (rituximab) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, commonly called lupus) did not meet its primary endpoint defined as the proportion of Rituxan treated patients who achieved a major clinical response (MCR) or partial clinical response (PCR) measured by BILAG, a lupus activity response index, compared to placebo at 52 weeks. The study also did not meet any of the six secondary endpoints. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105745.php Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL) announced today that its lead product candidate, R788, has successfully treated lupus prone mice and significantly improved their survival as reported in a recently published study of the drug candidate. R788 (fostamatinib disodium) is an orally bioavailable syk kinase inhibitor, which has shown clinically significant results in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis and immune thrombocytopenic purpura in clinical trials. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105740.php Preliminary results were released from a late-stage clinical trial of Rituxan (rituximab) for the treatment of lupus. The study did not meet its primary or secondary endpoints of clinically reducing the severity of SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) in people with moderate disease. The findings are initial results from a Phase II/III study conducted by Genentech, Inc., known as the EXPLORER study. Rituxan is approved by the U.S. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104990.php Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) announced that it has completed enrollment and initial dosing in BLISS-52, one of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of LymphoStat-B(R) (belimumab) in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LymphoStat-B is being developed by HGS and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) under a co-development and commercialization agreement entered into in August 2006. "We continue to be excited by LymphoStat-B's potential. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104763.php The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is seeking proposals for up to $1.5 million in grant funding for basic, clinical, or translational research studies on lupus, an unpredictable and potentially fatal autoimmune disease. The purposes of the studies are to: accelerate ongoing research; directly sponsor novel approaches; and develop experimental prototypes. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104722.php The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) recently announced that it will award nearly $7 million to researchers around the world. "The ALR is very proud to announce, during National Minority Health Month, that with our 2008 class of grantees the ALR has funded more than 100 research projects, and committed more than $50 million to research, since our founding in 1999," says ALR President Barbara Boyts. For a full list of grantees, visit the ALR's website, Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/100702.php A new road to the autoantibodies that characterize lupus Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the inflammatory destruction of many organs, including the skin, joints, and kidneys. A hallmark of the disease is the production of IgG antibodies that target nucleic acid-associated proteins in the nucleus of the individual's own cells (so called autoantibodies). Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/100111.php On Tuesday, March 4th, advocates for the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR), on behalf of the 1.4 million Americans with lupus, described their personal experiences with the disease to their Members of Congress. ALR Advocates visited nearly 100 Congressional offices, representing 21 states, and asked their Members to support lupus research funding through the Department of Defense's (DoD) peer reviewed medical programs. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99571.php Learning that your child has a chronic illness is never easy, especially when it's the unpredictable and potentially fatal autoimmune disease lupus. When it comes to physical activities for children, most parents prefer to err on the side of caution - but medical experts say that may be a mistake. The spring issue of the Lupus Foundation of America national magazine, Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99570.php It is estimated that as many as 40 percent of all people with the autoimmune disease lupus, and as many as two-thirds of all children with lupus, will develop kidney complications that require medical evaluation and treatment. Because there are so few symptoms of kidney disease, significant damage to the kidneys can occur before a person is actually diagnosed with lupus. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99072.php Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, can affect nearly any part of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, nervous system, and brain. Along with joint pain, muscle pain, unexplained fever, extreme fatigue, and skin rashes, neurologic and psychiatric events often accompany this autoimmune disease. Depending on the study, between 37 and 95 percent of SLE patients experience signs and symptoms of neuropsychiatric (NP) disease. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/97383.php Immune cells that would normally die in healthy people accumulate in bodies of patients who have lupus and contribute to the disease, according to new Saint Louis University research published in the Feb. 15 issue of Immunity. The finding is important because it tells us more about how lupus develops and suggests a strategy for treating the autoimmune disease, said Harris Perlman, Ph.D. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/97148.php La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (Nasdaq:LJPC) announced significant progress in its ongoing double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized Phase 3 trial of Riquent(R) (abetimus sodium), its drug candidate for systemic lupus erythematosus ("lupus" or "SLE"), including additional safety data on the trial's higher doses. To date, 607 patients have been enrolled in the study at more than 130 clinical trial sites in 23 countries. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96433.php The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is proud to unveil its new line of updated and revised lupus education materials. Five new booklets, eleven fact sheets and five quick guides provide the latest medically sound information about lupus diagnosis and treatment. The publications feature easy-to-read text within a colorful layout to help individuals with lupus and others learn about lupus and its consequences.