Abbott Announces HUMIRA reg; adalimumab Approved In Japan For The Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Abbott announced that it has received approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for HUMIRA (adalimumab) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with inadequate response to conventional therapy. This approval is the first for HUMIRA in Japan, where Abbott co-developed and will co-market HUMIRA with Eisai Co.
Velcura Therapeutics, Inc. Reports Successful Phase 1 Clinical Trial Of Novel Bone Disease Therapy
Velcura Therapeutics, Inc. announced the successful completion of a first-in-man clinical trial for its lead compound, VEL-0230, which the company is investigating as a treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other bone diseases. In extensive preclinical studies, VEL-0230 proved to be a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that also stimulates bone formation and inhibits bone loss.
Pine Bark Naturally Reduces Osteoarthritis, Lowers Joint Pain, Improves Physical Function
More than 20 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, with half a million Americans having a total joint replacement each year. A new study to be published in the April 2008 edition (Volume 22, issue No 4) of the journal of Phytotherapy Research shows Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, was shown to reduce all osteoarthritis symptoms by 56 percent.
Man Hypnotizes Himself And Has Bone-cutting Thumb Operation Without Anesthetic
Doctors were amazed when Alex Lenkei, a professional hypnotist, underwent a thumb operation which required sawing and chiseling of a bone without any anesthetic - and he said he did not feel a thing during the 80-minute operation at Worthing and Southlands Hospital, West Sussex, England.
NICE Preliminary Decision On Sequential Use Of Anti-TNFs, NICE 'Penny-Pinching' Restricts Patient Choice
A leading arthritis charity accused the government's health rationing watchdog of 'penny-pinching' in its decision to refuse thousands of people the chance to try an alternative life-changing anti-TNF drug if a first does not work for them. 'Anti-TNFs can slow down the progress of rheumatoid arthritis.
Mesoblast Limited Announce Long-Lasting And Sustained Effect By Allogeneic Cells In Knee Osteoarthritis Preclinical Trials
Australia's adult stem cell company, Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB; USOTC: MBLTY), announced successful long-term results in its osteoarthritis preclinical trials. A single injection of its proprietary allogeneic, or "off-the-shelf", adult stem cells into arthritic knees provided sustained protection against cartilage destruction and degeneration for up to nine months.
Rheumatoid Arthritis - MorphoSys Announces Completion Of First Dosing In Phase 1 Trial For MOR103 Program
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced the completion of a first dosing regimen in a phase 1 clinical study on healthy volunteers of the HuCAL-derived antibody MOR103 with no adverse events reported. Six healthy volunteers in the first dosing group have been enrolled and received MOR103 injections, three volunteers received placebo.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Not To Have Access To Treatment If First One Is Unsuitable, England
A decision by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) means that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients will not have access to a second anti-TNF treatment if the first one is found to be unsuitable. The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance says this latest decision seems to have forgotten all about patient choice in England, while those in Scotland will be able to move from one treatment to another if the first one proved unsuitable.
Merck Responds To Journal Of The American Medical Association Articles
Merck & Co., Inc. today said it is committed tohigh standards of scientific integrity and ethics, and believes that many of the comments in aJournal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) news release and in the April 16 issue ofJAMA1 related to VIOXX are false, misleading or lack context.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Fully-automated Anti-CCP Assay Launched By Roche Diagnostics
Roche Diagnostics announced the launch of a fully-automated immunoassay for the determination of autoantibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (Anti-CCP). The assay has been CE approved for use on the Elecsys / cobas e electrochemiluminescence immunoassay systems.