José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Treatment with plant-derived salvianolic acid B (SAB) reduced skin fibrosis in a mouse model of scleroderma. The findings suggest that SAB may be an effective treatment for people with scleroderma. The research, “Salvianolic acid B attenuates experimental skin fibrosis of systemic sclerosis,” was published in the…

A Phase 2a clinical trial will test the investigational therapy GLPG1690 in patients with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma. The double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a study, called NOVESA (NCT03798366), will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacological profile of Galapagos’ GLPG1690. It is set to enroll 30 participants with diffuse cutaneous…

Inhibiting a key innate immunity protein known as TLR4 with a compound called TAK242 prevented and reversed skin and lung fibrosis (scarring) in mouse models, and eased the production of collagen in cells from scleroderma patients. The findings suggest that TAK242 may be a new therapeutic approach for people…

Mutations in the FAM111B gene are rare in scleroderma patients and not associated with disease development, according to new research. This finding was reported in the study, “Mutations of FAM111B gene are not associated with Systemic Sclerosis,” published in the journal Scientific Reports. Although scleroderma has…

Patients with scleroderma and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have increased levels of two serum proteins, midkine (MDK) and follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3), according to a new study. The finding indicates that combined measurement of these biomarkers could quicken diagnosis. The research, “Serum biomarker for diagnostic evaluation…

Patients with both scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are younger at diagnosis, are more often women, and have less skin manifestations, but most importantly, show similar survival rates as those without lupus, according to a study. The study, “Epidemiology and Survival of Systemic Sclerosis-Systemic Lupus…

A protein involved in inflammation and tissue regrowth — HMGB1 — may be the main driver of blood vessel damage and tissue fibrosis in scleroderma, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target, according to a study. The study, “Platelet microparticles sustain autophagy-associated activation of neutrophils in…

A key innate immunity protein called TLR4 is a key driver of organ fibrosis, according to a new study conducted in mice and scleroderma patients. The finding suggests that targeting TLR4 may be an effective therapeutic strategy in certain patients. The study, “TLR4-dependent fibroblast activation…

Treatment with Opsumit (macitentan) and Esbriet (pirfenidone) provided stable improvements in a scleroderma patient with interstitial pneumonia and borderline pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to a Japanese case report. The study, “Systemic scleroderma-related interstitial pneumonia associated with borderline pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published…

The occurrence of blood clots in the veins of scleroderma patients is rare and does not change patients’ survival rates, a new Canadian study shows. Still, researchers see a need for improved understanding of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in these patients. The study, “Venous Thromboembolism in Systemic Sclerosis: Prevalence,…