Corbus Pharmaceuticals announced the addition of a protocol amendment to one of the company’s existing Investigational New Drug (IND) Applications with the FDA for a Phase 2 clinical trial of Resunab for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an important step to initiate a multicenter placebo-controlled SLE trial. The clinical study,…
In a landmark study, principal researcher Virginia Pascual at the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, and colleagues, investigated the molecular diversity of lupus and found that a personalized immuno-monitoring approach allows for classification of patients into specific disease groups. Researchers believe these results may explain why lupus clinical trials have a low success rate…
British Columbia-based Aurinia Pharmaceuticals has announced positive results from the fourth and final safety review of the company’s Phase 2b AURA LV clinical trial, which is evaluating the efficacy of its lead drug voclosporin as a treatment for active lupus nephritis. The review was conducted by the Data and Safety…
Researchers found that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at a specific genomic location, the FCGR2B-FCRLA locus, is involved in the response of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis patients to cyclophosphamide treatment. The research, “Response to Intravenous Cyclophosphamide Treatment for Lupus Nephritis Associated with Polymorphisms in the FCGR2B-FCRLA Locus,” was published in The…
Three organizations focused on helping patients with lupus are banding together once again to recognize an outstanding research project. The Alliance for Lupus Research, the Lupus Foundation of America, and the Lupus Research Institute are calling for research nominations to win the Lupus Insight…
The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month with the inauguration of its yearlong Autoimmune Heroes campaign that names actresses Kellie Martin (@kelliemartin) and Haley Ramm (@halesbells), along with her mother Barbara Ramm (@BarbeeVintage), as the first #AutoimmuneHeroes for their help in raising public awareness and promoting…
Using next-generation DNA sequencing technology, researchers have targeted 16 specific regions of the human genome associated with increased susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), identifying more than 1,000 DNA variations that regulate the expression of genes associated with immune responses and SLE pathology. The variations are linked to disease susceptibility. The study,…
The Lupus Foundation of America has announced two new staff appointments: Susan Manzi, M.D., MPH, the chief adviser of clinical development and the Lupus Foundation’s new medical director; and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation member Joan T. Merrill, M.D., who will serve as chief adviser for clinical development. Manzi is chair…
XTL Biopharmaceuticals has completed the design of a Phase 2 clinical trial investigating its drug candidate hCDR1 for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The planned international study will be launched this year after the company files its investigational new drug (IND) paperwork with the U.S. FDA. XTL’s lead product hCDR1 is a…
A new lupus research plan to guide work toward a cure was introduced on Wednesday, March 16, in a special briefing to the U.S. Congress. The briefing was presented by the Lupus Federal Working Group, which includes the lupus advocacy organizations Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR),…