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Blood serum levels of the protein CD163 may be a potential biomarker to identify patients with systemic sclerosis, according to new research from France. The study, “Soluble CD163 as a Potential Biomarker in Systemic Sclerosis,” was published in the journal Disease Markers. Systemic sclerosis…

As President Trump signed the recently passed Right to Try legislation into law in a White House ceremony, Jordan McLinn of Indianapolis tried twice to embrace him. The third time, 9-year-old Jordan finally got the hug he wanted — as well as a kiss on the forehead. The video of…

High levels of a blood protein called CC16 predict a higher likelihood of lung disease worsening in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to researchers. Their study, “High Baseline Serum Clara Cell 16 kDa Predicts Subsequent Lung Disease…

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represents a major cause of mortality in patients with scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, accounting for 52% of all deaths — mainly within the first few years after PAH diagnosis, according to recent findings. The fact that PAH is a leading cause of death in scleroderma…

Finding treatments and potential cures for rare diseases is crucial, but so is the quality of patients’ lives — a rather nebulous term that means different things to different people. “Recently, there’s been much more of a focus on Quality of Life (QoL) issues, real-world evidence and patient-reported outcomes,” said…

The presence of B-cells — a type of white blood cell — in the skin of scleroderma patients may predict a more aggressive disease and worsening of skin fibrosis, a study shows. The study, “Characterization of inflammatory cell infiltrate of scleroderma skin: B cells and skin score…

In patients with systemic sclerosis, renal function is generally well-preserved, despite increased stiffness of the arteries that supply the kidneys, a study shows. The study, “Prognostic Factors of Renal Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis,” was published in the journal Kidney & Blood Pressure Research. Systemic sclerosis…

Lenabasum, an investigational treatment of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis by Corbus Pharmaceuticals, was shown to be safe, well-tolerated and of benefit to patients treated for one year in a long-term extension of a Phase 2 trial. Latest results of the JBT101-SSc-001 study (NCT02465437) will be discussed at the European…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) will celebrate the 35th anniversary of both the 1983 Orphan Drug Act and NORD’s founding at a dinner tonight in Washington, D.C. The 2018 Rare Impact Awards, to be held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, will be webcast via Facebook for those…

The European Union isn’t doing enough to protect the 30 million or so people with rare diseases who live in its 28 member countries, officials meeting last week in Vienna said. More than 900 people from 58 nations attended the 9th European Conference on Rare Diseases & Orphan Drugs (ECRD),…