Immunotherapy Weekly back issues from November 2000:
Sublingual Immunotherapy May Be Effective Long-Term Treatment for Children.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Sublingual immunotherapy is a safe and effective method for the long-term treatment of pediatric asthma patients, despite having little apparent effect on immunologic variables, researchers report in the journal Allergy. "Immunotherapy ...
Adoptive Immunotherapy Lowers Risk of Postsurgical Recurrence.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Adoptive immunotherapy can reduce postsurgical recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), say researchers in Japan. "Postsurgical recurrence of HCC is frequent and fatal," stated T. Takayama and colleagues, University of Tokyo ....
Gene Therapy Used to Redirect Anti-Cancer Immune Responses.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers in the United States explored the effectiveness of antigen-specific lymphocyte expansion (ALEX) for its ability to redirect immune responses against target tumors. "Tumor escape from immune destruction is associated with a ...
Therapy Improves Air Flow But Not Nitric Oxide Levels.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Conventional treatments for seasonal allergic rhinitis produce improvements in objective measures of nasal airflow and subjective symptom experience, but do not affect nasal nitric oxide levels, according to a study a recent issue of the Annals of ...
New Antibody Test Developed.(autonomic disorders )
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, researchers have developed a new test that will help physicians distinguish autonomic disorders caused by the immune system from other autonomic disorders, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and timely treatment ...
Roquinimex Immunotherapy is Associated With Dermatologic Changes.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Immunotherapy with roquinimex may cause dermatologic graft-vs.-host disease reactions, a recent study found. "Roquinimex (Linomide) is an immunotherapeutic agent used in conjunction with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for ...
Cytokine Therapy Shows Promise in Cancer Models.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Cytokine gene delivery using electroporation slowed tumor growth and improved survival in a murine model, researchers in the United States reported. "Cytokines are utilized as adjuvants to traditional anticancer modalities," stated Loree ...
Electroporation Enhances Numerous Therapies.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Electroporation can be used to enhance the effectiveness of numerous therapeutic modalities. "The development of effective therapies for a variety of diseases is dependent on procedures that allow for efficient delivery of molecules to ...
Simple Sugar May Prevent Lung Infections in CF Patients.(cystic fibrosis )
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- The lungs contain substances that kill inhaled and aspirated bacteria, thereby preventing lung infections. This system may be disrupted in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). University of Iowa researchers have discovered that a simple ...
Anti-CD45RO Immunotoxin Eliminates Latently Infected CD4(+) Cells.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers in the United States demonstrated that an anti-CD45RO immunotoxin was able to eliminate latently infected CD4(+) cells from HIV infected patients. "Several studies have demonstrated that CD4(+)CD45RO(+) T cells are a major ...
HIV-1 Envelope-Specific Lymphocytes Stimulated by Semi-Allogeneic Cell Hybrids.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from the United States, semi-allogeneic cell hybrids stimulated HIV-1 envelope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. "The present study was designed to determine whether the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ...
G-CSF Inhibits Immune Reconstitution After Mismatched Transplant.(Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor )
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) blocks interleukin (IL)-12 production, which inhibits immune recovery after mismatched hematopoietic transplantation, researchers in Italy reported. "One major problem of human leukocyte ...
Anti-HIV gp160 (Env) Antibodies Respond to HAART.(Highly active antiretroviral therapy )
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may enhance HIV specific humoral immunity by increasing anti-HIV gp160 (Env) antibodies, according to a study from the United Kingdom. "Reconstitution of cellular immunity to a variety of ...
Immuno-Chemotherapy Has Striking Antitumor Effectiveness.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- The combination of immunotherapy with chemotherapy induced a strong antileukemic response in murine models, researchers in Poland reported. "Until recently antitumor effects of interleukin (IL)-12 have been mainly investigated in solid ...
Interferon Treatment Delays MS Development in High-Risk Individuals.(multiple sclerosis )
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Early treatment with the multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy interferon beta-1a, or Avonex(r), can significantly reduce the rate at which individuals at high risk for the disease actually develop clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS), according ...
Alloimmunization with Paternal Mononuclear Cells is Successful.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Alloimmunization with paternal mononuclear cells can be used to successfully treat recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), finds a study from Argentina. "Alloimmunization as a treatment for RSA is still controversial due to the lack of ...
Methacholine Useful in Diagnosis.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Patients with allergic and nonallergic rhinitis show a pronounced increase in nasal sensitivity following exposure to methacholine, making that substance useful in the rhinitis diagnosis, according to researchers writing in the American Journal of ...
Corticosteroids Do Not Increase Effectiveness of Antibiotics.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Combining antibiotic therapy for recurrent sinusitis with corticosteroids does not appear to confer a significant increase in treatment benefits. "Emerging evidence indicates that medically recalcitrant sinusitis may be associated with a ...
SIVmac251-Derived Vector Transduces Human Dendritic Cells.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Lentiviral vectors derived from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) can transduce human dendritic cells (DCs), report researchers in France. "Lentivirus-derived vectors are very promising gene delivery systems since they are able to ...
Unique Collaborative Service Established for Childhood Allergy-Related Anaphylaxis.(collaborative service between the Women's and Children's Hospital, in Adelaide, Australia, the South Australian Department of Education, Training, and Employment (DETE), the Australian Red Cross SA, and St. John's Ambulance)
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Studies in preschool and school-aged children have resulted in a new collaborative service between the Women's and Children's Hospital, in Adelaide, Australia, the South Australian Department of Education, Training, and Employment (DETE), the ...
Patients Sought for Cancer Immunotherapy Study.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- The University of California, San Francisco, Comprehensive Cancer Center is enrolling patients for trials to investigate a new treatment for kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma. The aim of the trials to determine if early immune ...
Schering-Plough Corp. Exercises Options to Develop Interferon for Multiple Applications.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Schering-Plough Corp. will develop a novel protein discovered by Human Genome Sciences Inc., known as an interferon, in hopes of commercializing a drug that could fight cancer and other diseases. Even if development trials are successful, ...
Holistic Treatment Advocated for First "Environmental Epidemic".
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to Mary L. Hardy, MD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Integrative Medicine Medical Group, respiratory disease (including sinusitis, environmental asthma, and related conditions) has become America's first environmental ...
Abciximab Causes Complications in Cardiac Surgery.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Abciximab-treated patients have a higher occurrence of bleeding complications during cardiac surgery, noted researchers in the United States. "Early surgical experience with abciximab and other glycoprotein (CP) IIb/IIIa receptor ...
B7.1/IL-12 Gene Transfer Stimulates Immune Response in Melanoma Cells.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of the B7.1 co-stimulatory molecule with the cytokine gene interleukin (IL)-12 results in immunostimulatory responses in melanoma cells, researchers in Canada report. "Melanoma is an immunogenic tumor ...
Preclinical Results of Suicide Gene Therapy Approach are Promising.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers in Japan report successful suicide gene therapy/cytokine therapy for carcinomatous peritonitis in animal models. "Carcinomatous peritonitis is characterized by massive malignant ascites, while peritoneally disseminated ...
Aventis/Gencell Has Numerous Therapeutic Modalities Under Development.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Aventis/Gencell, a company in the United States, is actively pursuing p53 gene therapy, immunotherapy, and anti-angiogenesis gene therapy modalities against cancer. "Aventis/Gencell has been committed to the development of gene therapy ...
Immuno-Gene Therapy Results Promising in Murine Model.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Transduction of renal cell carcinoma cells with cytokine genes resulted in reduced tumor growth and increased survival in murine models, researchers in Poland reported. "Renal cell cancer is resistant to all types of therapies," stated ...
High-Dose Interferon Alfacon-1 Safely Fights Hepatitis C Infection.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Administration of high-dose interferon alfacon-1 (Infergen, Amgen) appears to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in most infected patients without increasing their risk of serious side effects, according to a recent study. ...
Second Course of Interferon Increases Response Rate in Hepatitis C Relapsers.
Nov 01, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 1 - (NewsRx.com) -- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) relapsers could potentially be helped by taking a second dose of interferon therapy, according to medical investigators in Japan. These gastroenterologists say that HCV RNA, which is sometimes low in HCV ...
Encouraging Results from MUC1/IL-2 Immunotherapy Clinical Trial Reported.
Nov 08, 2000; ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) Results from a clinical trial of MUC1 and interleukin (IL)-2 immunotherapy in breast cancer patients are encouraging. "Polymorphic epithelial mucin, encoded by the MUC1 gene, is present at the apical surface of glandular epithelial cells," ...
Patients with History of Penicillin Allergy Usually Test Negative and Can Use Drug Safely.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Most patients with a history of allergy to penicillin show a negative reaction to a skin test for the drug and can safely use penicillin, according to a pilot study in the October 2000 issue of Chest. The authors also recommend skin ...
Squaric Acid Dibutylester Effective Immunotherapy in Children.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers in Italy have found that squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) is a safe and effective immunotherapeutic for resistant cutaneous warts in children. "We evaluated the efficacy of SADBE contact immunotherapy for the treatment of ...
Gamma-Glutamyl-Containing Peptides Have Potential.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Gamma-glutamyl-containing peptides have immunomodulatory potential, researchers in the United States and Russia reported. "Earlier we described gamma-glutamyl and beta-aspartyl containing peptides that manifest immunomodulatory properties ...
BCH-1393 Has Synergistic Anti-Tumor Activity When Combined with Cyclophosphamide.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from Canada, N,N-dimethylaminopurine pentoxycarbonyl D-arginine (BCH-1393) has synergistic anti-tumor activity when combined with cyclophosphamide. "BCH-1393 is a novel low molecular weight synthetic immunomodulator ...
Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonists Show Promise for Treatment.(otitis media)
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Blocking the effects the cytokine interleukin-1 may be useful in the treatment of otitis media, or inflammatory ear infections, researchers say. J.E. Kerschner and colleagues at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin conducted a study "to ...
Aerosolized Ribavirin and Immunotherapy Successful Against Pneumona in Myelosuppressed Adults.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Combination therapy with aerosolized ribavirin and immunotherapy is effective against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia in myelosuppressed adults with leukemia, say researchers. "During community outbreaks, RSV is a frequent ...
Remicade Approved for Broader Indication.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP), Kenilworth, New Jersey, and Centocor, Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania, announced that the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) has issued ...
FDA Approval Received for CTLA4-Ig Clinical Trial.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Repligen Corp. (RGEN), Needham, Massachusetts, announced it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase II clinical trial with CTLA4-Ig. The trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of ...
Early Antiretroviral Treatment Has Immunological Benefits.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers in Spain report that early antiretroviral therapy has immunological benefits for patients with HIV-1 infection. M. Plana and colleagues at the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona investigated "whether an almost complete restoration ...
Experimental Drug Helps Rebuild HIV-Damaged Immune Systems Faster than Antiviral Drugs Alone.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Adding an experimental drug to antiviral therapy may help persons with advanced HIV infection rebuild their immune systems faster than antiviral therapy alone, suggest early results from AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 328. Principal ...
HIV-1 Immunogen Fails to Increase Disease-Free Survival for Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Adding HIV-1 Immunogen to unrestricted antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not reduce disease progression among adults infected with HIV, compared to what is achievable by ART alone, according to an article in the November 1, 2000, issue of The ...
HIV Neutralizing Antibody Binds to HIV-1 Envelope Peptide.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Certain peptides may help in the design of anti-HIV immunogens, according to researchers in the United States. "The human monoclonal antibody 2F5 (MAb 2F5) binds to a linear B-cell peptide epitope from the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41 ...
Dendritic Cells Mediate Protective Antiviral and Antitumor Immunity.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from Switzerland, activation of dendritic cells (DC) by a liposomal peptide vaccine induced antiviral and antitumor protection in vivo. "Initiation of antiviral and antitumor T-cell responses is probably achieved ...
Patent Issued for Monoclonal Antibodies to Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- BZL Biologics Inc., New York, New York, announced that Cornell University in New York was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,136,311 entitled "Treatment and Diagnosis of Cancer." BZL holds the exclusive worldwide license to this technology from ...
Canadian Patent Position Completed for Zadaxin in Hepatitis C.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- SciClone Pharmaceuticals (SCLN), San Mateo, California, announced that it has received an issued patent in Canada for the use of the company's lead drug, Zadaxin, for the treatment of hepatitis C, one of the world's most common blood-borne ...
Viral RNA Level is Best Predictor of Response to Interferon.
Nov 08, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels can better predict alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization after interferon therapy than ALT levels can predict HCV RNA detection, investigators report. Yatian Zhang and colleagues at the Brookdale ...
Chemotherapy for Fungal Infection Enhanced by Interferon-Gamma.(systemic cryptococcosis)
Nov 15, 2000; ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) Interferon gamma immunotherapy has been found to enhance the effects of antifungal chemotherapy against systemic cryptococcosis. "The possible enhancement, using immunotherapy with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), combined with conventional ...
Glucocorticoids Can Prevent Eotaxin-Mediated Inflammation.
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Nasally administered glucocorticoids can protect allergic rhinitis sufferers from inflammation caused by nasal eotaxin expression, according to researchers writing in the journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy. "Allergic rhinitis is ...
Alum Depot Extract Best Compromise Choice For Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy.
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Health care professionals using allergen-specific immunotherapy for patients with allergic respiratory problems can safely hedge their bets by using an alum depot extract, according to researchers in Denmark. "Allergen-specific ...
Biologic Therapy Safe and Effective in Children.(with Crohn's disease)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Children with active, severe Crohn's disease who had not responded to conventional therapy over four months and had not been able to taper off their potentially growth-stunting steroid therapy, showed significant improvement and were able to ...
Remune Monotherapy Safe/Immunotherapeutic in Asymptomatic HIV-1 Patients.
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to results from a clinical trial, Remune monotherapy is safe and has immunomodulating capabilities in asymptomatic HIV-1 infected patients in Thailand. "We examined the effect of a HIV specific immune-based therapy in ...
Human Monoclonal Antibodies Produced in Murine Model are Protective.(against Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Researchers in the United States have produced human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) from a transgenic mouse model. The MAbs may be useful as a therapeutic agent against infection by this bacterium. ...
Phase II Trial Combines Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy.(for treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Results of a Phase II trial suggest that 5-fluorouracil is not beneficial in combination with recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) and interferon-alpha 2B (IFN-alpha 2B) for the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer. "The purpose of ...
Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist May Reduce Progression of Joint Damage.(anakinra may reduce rheumatoid arthritis progression)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Amgen (AMGN) announced that anakinra or interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), an investigational rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, may accelerate reduction in joint damage progression ...
Inhibiting a Specific Enzyme May Lead to Therapy.(for scleroderma)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Blocking the action of a specific enzyme may someday prove to be an effective treatment for scleroderma, a potentially life-threatening disease that results in the overproduction of collagen and which can affect the skin, joints and multiple ...
Mayo Clinic Seeks Participants for National Research Study on Peanut Allergy.
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Peanut and tree nut allergy can be a serious condition that affects approximately three million Americans. There is no cure for peanut allergy, merely symptomatic relief, and there is a lack of public and medical understanding of the ...
Effect of Zadaxin on Immune Response of HBV Patients Described.
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- SciClone Pharmaceuticals (SCLN), San Mateo, California, announced that a study presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), held in Dallas, Texas, during October 2000, further confirms ...
Partnership Entered to Develop Antibodies.(Cambridge Antibody Technology and Human Genome Sciences enter partnership)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT), Melbourn, United Kingdom, and Human Genome Sciences (HGSI), Rockville, Maryland, announced that HGS has exercised an option to enter into an exclusive development partnership on the target B-Lymphocyte ...
Long-Term Data Presented on Fully Human Anti-TNF Antibody.(tumor necrosis factor)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- A study reported at the 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during October 2000, suggests that D2E7, the first fully human anti-TNF antibody, continues to show promise in ...
Positive HuMax-CD4 Results Announced.
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Genmab A/S (GEN; GE9), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announced positive results from a Phase I/II clinical trial of HuMax-CD4, a fully human antibody used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis. HuMax-CD4 was well tolerated in this ...
Benefits of IL-2-Transduced Cells Must Be Balanced By Toxic Complications.(interleukin-2)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from Austria, the benefits of interleukin (IL)-2-transduced bone marrow cells must be balanced by dose-limiting toxicities. "The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of IL-2 gene-transduced ...
Monoclonal Antibody Enters Phase II Clinical Trials for Breast and Colorectal Cancer.(Seattle Genetics Inc. tests SGN-15)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Seattle Genetics, Inc., announced the initiation of Phase II clinical testing with one of its lead monoclonal antibody drug conjugates, SGN-15. Two Phase II efficacy studies are being conducted, one for patients with advanced breast ...
Grants Received for Research on Central Nervous System Repair.(Acorda Therapeutics awarded grant)
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Acorda Therapeutics, Hawthorne, New York, announced that it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant and a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (STTR) by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). ...
B7 Co-Stimulatory Requirements Differ According to Vaccine Type.
Nov 15, 2000 ... 2000 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com) -- Requirements for B7 co-stimulation differ according to whether the vaccine is a DNA vaccine, a protein vaccine, or a recombinant poxvirus vaccine, a recent study indicates. "Whether B7-1 and B7-2 have distinct functions for eliciting ...