Joana Fernandes, PhD,  —

Patients with scleroderma may develop calcinosis, a condition marked by abnormal deposits of calcium salts in the body’s soft tissues, a new study says. The study, “Are there risk factors for scleroderma-related calcinosis?,” was published in the journal Modern Rheumatology. “Calcinosis is commonly found in pressure areas such…

Many systemic sclerosis patients develop pulmonary arterial hypertension, but not all who are suspected of having PAH are referred for testing, according to rheumatologist Janet Pope. She called for more commitment to screening in an editorial in Arthritis Research & Therapy. The piece was titled “Pulmonary arterial hypertension in…

Results of a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT02465437) evaluating the effects of Corbus Pharmaceuticals’ anabasum (formerly known as Resunab or JBT-101) support this treatment as a potential option for patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. The study showed that treatment with anabasum affects the activity of nearly 1,940 genes…

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) may be associated with changes in gut bacteria, according to a U.S.-Norwegian study which found that SSc patients are more prone to severe gastrointestinal tract (GIT) changes and symptoms. The study, “Systemic sclerosis is associated with specific alterations in gastrointestinal microbiota in two independent cohorts,” appeared in the…

Fibrocell Science of Exton, Pa., recently started a preclinical dose-ranging study for FCX-013, an investigational drug to treat linear scleroderma. The company expects to initiate a safety study and apply for Investigational New Drug (IND) status to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2017. The design of…

Blood levels of the KL-6 and SP-D proteins may help doctors monitor the progression of interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a study reports. The research, “Serum KL-6 And Surfactant Protein-D As Monitoring And Predictive Markers Of Interstitial Lung Disease In Patients With Systemic Sclerosis And…

People with systemic sclerosis (SSc) frequently experience foot problems, but foot assessment and healthcare for SSc patients are still inadequate, according to new research. The study, “Biomechanical Podiatric Evaluation In An Italian Cohort Of Patients With Systemic Sclerosis: A Pilot Study,” was published in the European Journal of…

Patients with severe forms of systemic sclerosis (SSc) may frequently develop fingernail abnormalities, with such changes affecting four out of five SSc patients in a small study in France. The study, “Nail Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis,” appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD). “Whereas skin abnormalities have been…

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients face significant bodily and social restrictions that undermine their self-image and confidence, and uncertainties about the disease’s cause and prognosis undercut their confidence in their care, according to the a study of patient perceptions. Researchers hope that the data collected for their study — “It’s Not…

The European Commission (EC) has designated Corbus Pharmaceuticals’ product Resunab (JBT-101) an Orphan Drug for the potential treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Orphan Drug status is attributed to therapeutic drugs intended to prevent and treat rare life-threatening or chronically debilitating conditions that affect no more than five in 10,000 people, and…