Alice Melão, MSc,  —

Long-term treatment with CellCept (mycophenolic acid) or Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) can significantly reduce skin thickening in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to study published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. About 90 percent of SSc patients have thickened skin — a hallmark of this disease. As such, it is commonly used…

Results from a Phase 2 trial assessing the safety and efficacy of anabasum (formerly known as Resunab or JBT-101) shows promise in treating systemic sclerosis. That study is now being extended, and a Phase 3 trial is being planned. Anabasum, Corbus Pharmaceuticals’ lead candidate, is a synthetic oral drug that…

The ability of the investigational drug crenolanib to inhibit a signaling molecule called PDGF reduced fibrosis in the skin and heart of animal models of systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a study by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine. The study, “Blockade of PDGF receptors by crenolanib has therapeutic…

Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a key element that is responsible for fibrosis of many incurable and life-threatening diseases, such as scleroderma. Their finding can help develop new specific and efficient treatments to reverse tissue fibrosis processes. The finding was reported in a study titled “…

A rare condition of scleroderma, known as keloidal or nodular scleroderma, characterized by the presence of rigid and well-defined nodules and plaques that look like overgrown scars (keloids), was reported in a case study published in the journal Case Reports in Dermatology. Cases of nodular scleroderma were reported in patients…

A recent study reported that long-term treatment with Tracleer (bosentan) can be beneficial for patients with systemic sclerosis by reducing the risk or delaying the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Systemic sclerosis disease progression can induce PAH and interstitial lung disease, which leads to poor prognosis. The study “Beneficial effects…