News

As people age they accumulate a subset of more pro-inflammatory monocytes, a type of immune cell, that may ultimately contribute to the persistent low levels of chronic inflammation seen in the elderly, a new study reports. These findings may help in further understanding the mechanisms underlying inflammatory diseases, including systemic…

A study identified predictors for hospitalization due to lung and heart problems and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients at risk for pulmonary hypertension (PH). Being a man, having a reduced capacity to clear carbon monoxide in the lungs, and having pericardial effusions (accumulation of fluids around the heart) were…

Half a year has gone by since disgraced pharma executive Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for securities and wire fraud while heading San Diego-based Retrophin. As founder and CEO of another company (then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals), in late 2015 Shkreli bought the rights…

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a new patent to Corbus Pharmaceuticals to cover the use of investigational lenabasum-based therapies for the treatment of fibrotic diseases, including scleroderma. The patent, No. 10,085,964, provides the company exclusive rights for the use of lenabasum-based pharmaceutical compositions…

“Don’t Turn a Cold Shoulder to Painful Fingers” is the new campaign launched by the Raynaud’s Association to raise awareness about the pain experienced by those affected by Raynaud’s phenomenon. The association is inviting patients to share their stories, the challenges they had to deal with by being…

The launch of a Phase 1 clinical study to test the safety of Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals’ EHP-101, a cannabidiol-based oral formulation, in healthy volunteers has been announced. EHP-101 is a potential treatment for scleroderma and multiple sclerosis. The drug was designed to enhance the effectiveness of cannabidiol,…

A study involving two patients has demonstrated the effects of botulinum toxin in improving the appearance of a facial abnormality known as scleroderma en coup de sabre, which is sometimes seen in linear scleroderma. Localized scleroderma is a form of scleroderma that affects only the skin. Linear scleroderma is…

Emerald Health’s lead cannabinoid-derived investigational therapy, EHP-101, shows promise as a possible oral treatment for scleroderma, a mouse study shows. A second cannabinoid-derivative, called VCE-004.3, also showed potential to enhance anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic responses in animal models of scleroderma. Both EHP-101 and VCE-004.3 are derived from cannabidiol…

More than 700 medical experts, pharmaceutical executives, patient advocates, and others are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., next month for the 2018 NORD Rare Diseases & Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit. The Oct. 15-16 event, sponsored by the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), takes place at the…

The cytokines IL-1 and IL-17 seem to act together to induce fibrosis and inflammation in skin and organs in people with scleroderma (also called systemic sclerosis, or SSc), according to research done with mice and human cells. The study, “…