A therapy that multiplies the effect of a natural disease-fighting antibody has extended the lives of patients with metastatic melanoma in a large, international clinical trial. The study’s researchers will report their findings simultaneously at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago and in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study will be posted on the Internet in advance of print publication by the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Two studies published on February 1 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine reveal that patients with a rare autoimmune disease produce antibodies that attack microbe-fighting immune proteins called cytokines. These findings may help in explaining the reasons of some patients catching yeast infections recurrently. Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome, or APS-I, afflicts one in 100,000 people and is characterized by disrupted thyroid and adrenal gland function and recurrent skin infections with one type of yeast.

Scientists at Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR) in Texas claimed to have developed the BoNT-detecting substances or the antibodies – proteins made by the body to fight diseases – found in llamas. The llama antibodies, called single domain antibodies (sdAb) are molecularly flexible, unlike conventional antibodies, ScienceDaily reported. BoNTs directly hit the nervous system, resulting in paralysis that can be so severe as to require life support on a mechanical ventilator for weeks to months.

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The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. (NAMPA) supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement today to continue its ongoing scientific research and evaluation of bisphenol A (BPA). At the same time, FDA officials reiterated that consumers can continue to use safely existing products that contain BPA. The FDA announcement clearly noted that BPA exposure is not proven to harm children or adults which is consistent with other international regulatory bodies.

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Genentech, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ACTEMRA® (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies. ACTEMRA is the first interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody approved to treat RA, and may be used alone or in combination with methotrexate or other disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Cymbalta® (duloxetine HCl) for the maintenance treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults, Eli Lilly and Company announced. The efficacy and safety of Cymbalta for the maintenance treatment of GAD were established in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients with GAD who initially had responded to treatment with Cymbalta 60-120 mg/day during a 26-week open-label phase were randomly assigned to receive Cymbalta 60-120mg/day or placebo.

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AnaSpec has introduced the industry’s most comprehensive collection of anti-MMP zebrafish (Z-Fish(TM)) specific antibodies. AnaSpec’s existing portfolio of MMP research products includes SensoLyte(R) MMP assay kits, GO(TM) (catalog) MMP peptides, and MMP recombinant proteins products. The new MMP products include a wide selection of Z-Fish(TM) as well as human-specific MMP antibodies. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are members of a family of secreted or membrane-associated zinc endopeptidases involved in both normal and diseased tissue remodeling.

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PDL BioPharma, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company under PDL’s Queen et al patents with respect to teplizumab, a humanized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, as well as other potential next generation anti-CD3 molecules. Teplizumab is currently being studied by Lilly and its partner MacroGenics for the treatment of individuals with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus. No other details of the licensing agreement were made available.

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A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine divided a group of 106 overweight and obese people into two groups: About half spent a year following a diet low in fat – say goodbye to steak and pastries – and high in carbohydrates. The other half went for a year on a low-carb, high-fat diet – have a burger, but skip the bun. In both groups, people lost an average of 30 pounds each.

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The Adrima Corporation has announced that they will be offering a new antioxidant supplement that utilizes Effective Microorganisms™. This is an innovative green technology which is beneficial for humans, animals, and plants. With healthcare costs at an all time high, the company has stated that their product is an effective way to take preventative action and help avoid unnecessary and costly medical problems in the future.