Copyright 2009 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, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169696.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169696.php As if there weren't enough reasons to stop smoking, a team of researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have just found another. A study led by Dr. Christian A Pineau, Co-Director of the Lupus and Vasculitis clinic at the MUHC, has clearly linked skin damage and rashes to smoking in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Rheumatology. Lupus Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169639.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169639.php Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced positive results from BLISS-76, the second of two large-scale phase III clinical trials of BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) for treating systemic lupus. A full presentation of results from BLISS-52 was recently shared at the 73rd Annual Scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. Both trials succeeded in meeting their primary endpoints, which should make BENLYSTA eligible for approval by the U.S. Lupus Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169568.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169568.php The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) and its National Coalition of state and local lupus organizations congratulate Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline for achieving an historical landmark - the second positive phase 3 clinical trial of Benlysta (belimumab), the first successfully tested new drug developed specifically for people with systemic lupus. "This is a pivotal moment in lupus research," said Margaret G. Lupus Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169520.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169520.php Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced positive results from BLISS-76, the second of two large-scale phase III clinical trials of BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) for treating systemic lupus. A full presentation of results from BLISS-52 was recently shared at the 73rd Annual Scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. Both trials succeeded in meeting their primary endpoints, which should make BENLYSTA eligible for approval by the U.S. Lupus Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169471.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169471.php Individuals with a history of lupus who receive a kidney transplant rarely develop the serious inflammatory condition lupus nephritis in their new organ, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA. The findings indicate that having lupus should not keep individuals from seeking a kidney transplant if they need one. Transplants / Organ Donations Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167846.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167846.php Macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body's immune system, are responsible for disposing of dying cells. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified one pathway in this important process in mice that, if disrupted, causes a lupuslike autoimmune disease. The findings could lead to both a better understanding of the cause of lupus in humans and potential drug treatments for the disorder, which affects an estimated 1.5-2 million people in the United States. Lupus Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167781.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167781.php According to a new study by Hospital for Special Surgery investigators presented at the American College of Rheumatology meeting on October 21 in Philadelphia, most lupus patients are not aware that their condition puts them at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and a counseling program is a valuable way to promote education and lifestyle change. Lupus Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166397.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166397.php The Lewin Group, a national health care consulting firm, has issued recommendations on ways to overcome the barriers that have obstructed lupus drug development resulting in no new drug approval for this disease in more than 50 years - since the Eisenhower Administration. The recommendations are included in the report, "Overcoming Barriers to Drug Development in Lupus," which is the outcome of a 9-month study commissioned by the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA). Lupus Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166342.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166342.php The Lewin Group, a national health care consulting firm, issued recommendations on ways to overcome the barriers that have obstructed lupus drug development resulting in no new drug approval for this disease in more than 50 years- since the Eisenhower Administration. The recommendations are included in the report Overcoming Barriers to Drug Development in Lupus, which is the outcome of a 9-month study commissioned by the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA). Lupus Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165330.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165330.php An article published Online First and in the November edition of The Lancet Neurology reports that women with a particular subtype of antibody called lupus anticoagulant (LA) have a more than 40-fold increased risk of stroke. Moreover, they have a 5-fold increased risk of heart attack compared with the general population of young women. The autoimmune condition antiphospholipid syndrome mostly affects young women. Neurology / Neuroscience Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164828.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164828.php It's been 50 years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a medication to treat lupus -- when Dwight D. Eisenhower was President! To highlight the need for safer, more tolerable, and effective medications, the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) today launched its new campaign, Band Together for LupusSM, which encourages people to wear an LFA purple wristband until there is a medication approved specifically for lupus by the FDA. Lupus Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163306.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163306.php In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, their race can affect how severe the disease will become, according to a new study. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the kidneys, joints, blood and nervous system. Lupus Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163149.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163149.php Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:HGSI) announced publication by the journal of an article describing the development and use of a novel evidence-based systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index selected as the primary endpoint of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) in serologically active patients with SLE. Lupus Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162710.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162710.php It has been more than 50 years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last approved a new medicine specifically for lupus - when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president. Existing treatments have been "borrowed" from other disorders and the risk/benefit ratio of these treatments is far from optimal. However, hope is on the horizon. Lupus Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162076.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162076.php UCB and Immunomedics (NASDAQ: IMMU) announced top-line results from UCB's Phase IIb clinical study comparing epratuzumab to placebo in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, also commonly known as lupus). The data from the 12-week dose and regimen-ranging study demonstrated clinical meaningful treatment effect of epratuzumab over placebo in SLE patients. The 227 patients in this study had moderately (30%) to severely (70%) active disease in multiple organ systems. Lupus Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159374.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159374.php Patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk of infection, due to both disturbances in their immune responses and treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Because morbidity and mortality related to influenza are increased in immunocompromised patients, it is recommended that patients with SLE get annual flu shots, which are safe and do not increase disease activity. Flu / Cold / SARS Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158140.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158140.php Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) announced that BENLYSTA(TM) (belimumab, formerly LymphoStat-B(R)) met the primary endpoint in BLISS-52, the first of two pivotal Phase 3 trials in patients with serologically active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158141.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158141.php The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) and its National Coalition of state and local organizations congratulate Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline on the highly promising results of this landmark clinical trial of Benlysta(TM) (belimumab) for people with systemic lupus. "We are very hopeful that we now are strongly on our way to the first new treatment for lupus in 50 years," said LRI President, Margaret G. Dowd. Lupus Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158108.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158108.php Today, Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced positive results from a year-long clinical trial of BENLYSTA for treating lupus. When the 52-week study concluded, the lupus patients who were treated with BENLYSTA had improvement in overall disease activity without clinically significant flare-ups in one or more isolated organs when compared to patients who received the placebo (inactive agent). Lupus Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158105.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158105.php Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) today announced that BENLYSTA™ (belimumab, formerly LymphoStat-B®) met the primary endpoint in BLISS-52, the first of two pivotal Phase 3 trials in patients with serologically active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158066.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158066.php In what has been described as the first lupus drug in decades to show effectiveness in phase 3 clinical trials, the announcement that Benlysta (belimumab) outperformed placebo has surprised Wall Street, where many had assumed the drug was going nowhere. Lupus Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158073.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158073.php Today, Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced positive results from a year-long clinical trial of BENLYSTA for treating lupus. When the 52-week study concluded, the lupus patients who were treated with BENLYSTA had improvement in overall disease activity without clinically significant flare-ups in one or more isolated organs when compared to patients who received the placebo (inactive agent). Lupus Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157829.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157829.php Approximately two-thirds of the 1.5 million Americans living with lupus will develop some type of skin disease. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced causing it to become destructive to any organ and tissue in the body. Skin disease in lupus can cause rashes or sores (lesions), most of which will appear on sun-exposed areas, such as a person's face, ears, neck, arms, and legs. Lupus Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157448.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157448.php Approximately two-thirds of the 1.5 million Americans living with lupus will develop some type of skin disease. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced causing it to become destructive to any organ and tissue in the body. Skin disease in lupus can cause rashes or sores (lesions), most of which will appear on sun-exposed areas, such as a person's face, ears, neck, arms, and legs. Lupus Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157055.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157055.php As part of its Patient Voices series, The New York Times website is featuring the stories of people from across the country who are affected by lupus. Using audio interviews and photos, Patient Voices seeks to give a glimpse into the life of someone living with lupus. Lupus