News

Results from a Phase 2 trial assessing the safety and efficacy of anabasum (formerly known as Resunab or JBT-101) shows promise in treating systemic sclerosis. That study is now being extended, and a Phase 3 trial is being planned. Anabasum, Corbus Pharmaceuticals’ lead candidate, is a synthetic oral drug that…

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…

A cell therapy based on injected genetically modified human skin cells and a pill that activates a protein has the capacity for breaking down fibrosis in localized scleroderma — at least in mice. Fibrocell and Intrexon will present preclinical data on their investigational cell therapy FCX-013 for the…

In observance of World Scleroderma Day June 29, the Scleroderma Foundation is hosting a virtual variant of its “Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma Walk-a-thon.” The event provides an opportunity to join in a virtual walk in memory or honor of loved ones affected by scleroderma. The World…

The ability of the investigational drug crenolanib to inhibit a signaling molecule called PDGF reduced fibrosis in the skin and heart of animal models of systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a study by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine. The study, “Blockade of PDGF receptors by crenolanib has therapeutic…

Registration is open for the Scleroderma Foundation‘s 2017 National Patient Education Conference, July 21-23 in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Arizona. The conference will focus on helping patients, family members, caregivers, and others learn about therapies, manage the disease better, cope with the emotional challenges of scleroderma, stay motivated against the…

Factors in the innate immune system, as well as those in the extracellular matrix surrounding cells, are likely involved in the development of lung fibrosis in scleroderma patients, researchers suggest after linking gene mutations to the condition. Since risk factors for scleroderma typically belong to other parts of the immune system, these…

A therapy used to prevent organ rejection in patients who have a kidney, liver, or heart transplant can help people with scleroderma-associated lung disease, a study suggests. That treatment, Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil), slowed lung function decline, according to a comparison of the results of two clinical trials. Cellcept’s effects were…

Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a key element that is responsible for fibrosis of many incurable and life-threatening diseases, such as scleroderma. Their finding can help develop new specific and efficient treatments to reverse tissue fibrosis processes. The finding was reported in a study titled “…

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…