News

The first clinical symptom at onset, also called the mode of onset, should be considered a prognostic factor in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), new research shows. The study. “First clinical symptom as a prognostic factor in systemic sclerosis: results of a retrospective nationwide cohort study,”…

Corbus Pharmaceuticals is planning a global Phase 3 trial to assess anabasum (JBT-101) as a treatment for scleroderma. If successful, the company plans to apply to regulatory authorities, asking that anabasum be the first specifically approved treatment for scleroderma. The study, which Corbus calls RESOLVE-1, will enroll 354 patients and largely…

Scleroderma patients with lung diseases have shorter lifespans than those without pulmonary conditions, underscoring the need for better treatments for patients with lung conditions, a Colorado study reports. Another finding was that scleroderma patients with a lung disorder have higher medical costs than those without the condition. That’s particularly true…

An extension of a Phase 2/3 study testing Actemra (tocilizumab) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) found that skin involvement improved with 48 additional weeks of treatment. A Phase 3 trial looking to confirm these results is now underway. Trial results, were published in the study “Safety and…

Systemic sclerosis affects quality of life and places a financial burden on the healthcare system, a study indicates. The research, “Humanistic and cost burden of systemic sclerosis: A review of the literature,” was published in the journal Autoimmunity Reviews. Although systemic sclerosis is thought of as…

A newly discovered genetic variant in the FOXP3 gene is associated with a slower progression of systemic sclerosis in women, a small Italian cohort study reports. The research “FOXP3, ICOS and ICOSL gene polymorphisms in systemic sclerosis: FOXP3 rs2294020 is associated with disease progression in a female Italian population”…

Corbus Pharmaceuticals has extended its intellectual property portfolio with a new patent for its investigative cannabinoid-derived drug candidate anabasum to treat multiple fibrotic diseases. Issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the mark gives Corbus protection in the United States until 2034. It adds to a patent…

University of Colorado researchers have discovered a molecule that prevents the activation of a receptor that scientists believe is involved in autoimmune diseases. The team at university’s BioFrontiers Institute used the compound to block the receptor’s action. Their work may alter the path of therapy development in scleroderma and other…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) says it’s “disappointed and dismayed” after the House of Representatives voted 227-205 last week to repeal the Orphan Drug Tax Credit as part of a U.S. tax reform package. A similar package before the Senate Finance Committee does not repeal the credit…

Scleroderma patients’ nerve-related hand problems, including numbness, tingling and pain, may stem from the main nerve to the hands becoming stiffer than normal, according to Turkish researchers. The team discovered that the nerve was stiffer than usual at both the wrist and forearm. This prompted them to suggest that scientists…