StemCell Therapy

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Magenta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MGTA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines to bring the curative power of stem cell transplant to more patients, today announced the appointment of Jan Pinkas, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President, Translational Sciences. The Company also announced that Mike Cooke, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, will leave Magenta to pursue other opportunities.

We have made tremendous progress at Magenta, with two clinical programs in multiple trials and with our targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for patient preparation advancing toward the clinic, said Jason Gardner, D. Phil., Chief Executive Officer and President, Magenta. Jan is an expert drug developer who will provide critical translational input and help us accelerate the advancement of our programs as we work to make cures possible for more patients.

Magenta is uniquely positioned as the only company taking a comprehensive approach to unlocking the power of stem cell transplant medicine, said Dr. Pinkas. I am very excited to be part of the team that is building and expanding upon this foundational and innovative work to bring potentially transformative therapies to patients.

Dr. Pinkas is a seasoned scientist with deep expertise in leading drug development programs, specifically ADCs. Prior to joining Magenta, he was Head of Translational Research & Development at Immunogen, where he led nonclinical and translational research and development-related activities for all programs in discovery through late-stage clinical development. Dr. Pinkas earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Johns Hopkins University and his doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

As Magenta has evolved into a clinical-stage company with a robust pipeline of preclinical assets, Mike has made tremendous contributions. He has built a world-class research organization and advanced our pipeline. Mike and I agreed that now, with a well-established Magenta research platform that is generating strong conditioning ADCs, validated targets, and discovery biology, it is the right time for Mike to explore other opportunities. We wish him well in his new adventure and will always be grateful for his scientific contributions, added Dr. Gardner.

I am very proud of Magentas rapid progress since our launch three years ago, and I am particularly proud of the cutting-edge scientific work that has come from our platform, said Dr. Cooke. I am confident that the scientific groundwork we have laid will help ensure that Magenta achieves its vision to transform the lives of many patients.

About Magenta TherapeuticsHeadquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Magenta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines for patients with autoimmune diseases, blood cancers and genetic diseases. By creating a platform focused on critical areas of unmet need, Magenta Therapeutics is pioneering an integrated approach to allow more patients to receive one-time, curative therapies by making the process more effective, safer and easier.

Forward-Looking StatementThis press release may contain forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. The use of words such as may, will, could, should, expects, intends, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, projects, seeks, endeavor, potential, continue or the negative of such words or other similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking statements. The express or implied forward-looking statements included in this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation risks set forth under the caption Risk Factors in Magentas Registration Statement on Form S-1, as updated by Magentas most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although Magenta believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, except as required by law, neither Magenta nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Any forward-looking statement included in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Magenta Therapeutics Appoints Jan Pinkas as Senior Vice President, Head of Translational Sciences and Announces Transition of Chief Scientific Officer...

Mediating systemic health

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is an important circulating lipid mediator that is derived from the metabolism of cell membranes. Its diverse homeostatic roles, particularly in immunology and vascular biology, can go awry in numerous diseases, including multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and fibrosis. The centrality of S1P signaling has led to the development of several drugs, including two approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis. In a Review, Cartier and Hla discuss the current understanding of how one mediator can carry out so many signaling roles in different tissues, how these become dysregulated in disease, and efforts in drug development to target S1P signaling.

Science, this issue p. eaar5551

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a product of membrane sphingolipid metabolism, is secreted and acts through G proteincoupled S1P receptors (S1PRs) in vertebrates. S1PR isoforms mediate complex cellular actions either alone or in combination in most organ systems. This stable lysolipid circulates as a complex with protein chaperones that not only enables aqueous solubility but also helps facilitate specific modes of receptor signaling. However, differential concentration gradients of S1P are normally present in various compartments and are perturbed under disease conditions. The abundance of circulatory S1P and the high expression of S1PRs in exposed cellsthat is, vascular and hematopoietic cellsposes a key question of how this signaling axis is regulated. This question is of clinical relevance because the first S1PR-targeted drug, fingolimod, has been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis since 2010. Recent findings from basic research as well as insights gleaned from clinical and translational studies have enriched our understanding of how this simple lysolipid evolved as a complex regulator of multiple physiological systems and, when dysregulated, contributes to numerous diseases.

Extracellular spatial gradients of S1P, demonstrated by using S1P reporters, are tightly regulated and control fundamental processes such as hematopoietic cell trafficking, immune cell fate, and vascular integrity. The gradients are formed through location-specific function of metabolic enzymes, S1P transporters, and chaperones. Such physiological S1P gradients are altered in diseases, thus contributing to conditions such as inflammation, autoimmunity, and vascular dysfunction. S1P complexed to chaperone proteinsfor example, high-density lipoproteinbound apolipoprotein Mmediate distinct modes of receptor activation, resulting in biased receptor signaling and specific biological outcomes. S1PRs are also regulated tightly through endocytic mechanisms and receptor modulators that enhance or inhibit signal strength and duration. Various signaling mechanisms of this simple lysolipid mediator has helped reveal its multiple actions in the immune system, which include adaptive immune cell localization in various compartments (egress versus retention), fate switching, survival, and activation that influences both cell-mediated and humoral immunity. In the cardiovascular system, high expression of multiple S1PR isoforms in various cell types regulate development, homeostasis, and physiology. Current S1PR-targeted drugs that aim to tame autoimmunity exhibit considerable cardiovascular-adverse events. In the central nervous system (CNS), widespread application of S1PR-targeted drugs in autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases has stimulated research that revealed the broad but poorly understood effects of S1P signaling in neurodevelopment, the neurovascular unit, neurons, and glia. Furthermore, in addition to the involvement of pathological S1P signaling in acute ischemic conditions of various organs, chronic dysregulated S1P signaling has been implicated in fibrotic diseases of lung, heart, liver, and kidney.

Considerable challenges remain to fully harness the new knowledge in S1P pathobiology to translational utility in clinical medicine. Approaches that mimic S1P chaperones, S1P neutralizing agents, modulation of transporters, biased agonists and antagonists of S1PR isotypes, and sphingolipid metabolic enzyme modulators provide viable pathways to therapy. Focusing on the immune system, such approaches may widen the autoimmunity therapeutic landscape and provide new directions in cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. For cardiovascular diseases, ischemic conditions as well as chronic heart failure are likely candidates for future translational efforts. Although further work is needed, S1P-targeted approaches may also be useful in regenerative therapies for the aging and diseased myocardium. The CNS-targeted efforts may cross into neurodegenerative diseases, given the success with S1PR-targeted drugs in reducing brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis. Other potential applications include approaches in pain management and neurodevelopmental disorders. Such strategies, although challenging, are greatly helped by findings from basic research on S1P pathobiology as well as pharmacological and clinical insights derived from the application of S1P-targeted therapeutics.

Extracellular S1P gradients created by transporters, chaperones (ApoM+HDL), and metabolic enzymes (LPP3) interact with S1PRs on the cell surface. Receptor activity, transmitted by means of G proteins, is regulated by multiple mechanisms, including -arrestin coupling, endocytosis, and receptor modulators. The resultant cellular changes influence multiple organ systems in physiology and disease.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a metabolic product of cell membrane sphingolipids, is bound to extracellular chaperones, is enriched in circulatory fluids, and binds to G proteincoupled S1P receptors (S1PRs) to regulate embryonic development, postnatal organ function, and disease. S1PRs regulate essential processes such as adaptive immune cell trafficking, vascular development, and homeostasis. Moreover, S1PR signaling is a driver of multiple diseases. The past decade has witnessed an exponential growth in this field, in part because of multidisciplinary research focused on this lipid mediator and the application of S1PR-targeted drugs in clinical medicine. This has revealed fundamental principles of lysophospholipid mediator signaling that not only clarify the complex and wide ranging actions of S1P but also guide the development of therapeutics and translational directions in immunological, cardiovascular, neurological, inflammatory, and fibrotic diseases.

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Sphingosine 1-phosphate: Lipid signaling in pathology and therapy - Science Magazine

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCKT) (Rocket), a leading U.S.-based multi-platform gene therapy company, today announces data presentations at the upcoming European Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (ESGCT) 27th Annual Congress taking place October 2225, 2019, in Barcelona, Spain. Presentations at this years meeting include four oral presentations and one poster presentation related to Rockets lentiviral pipeline programs for Fanconi Anemia (FA), Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency-I (LAD), Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD), and Infantile Malignant Osteopetrosis (IMO).

Details for Rockets oral and poster presentations are as follows:Title: Towards Haematopoietic Stem Cell-Targeted Gene Therapy of Infantile Malignant OsteopetrosisSession Title: Skeletal Muscle & Bone Gene TherapySession Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2019Session Time: 5:30 PM 7:30 PM CESTRoom: 116-117

Title: Gene Therapy for Patients with Fanconi AnaemiaSession Title: Gene Therapy Clinical Trials IISession Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019Session Time: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM CESTRoom: 113-117

Title: First Steps of a Lentiviral Gene Therapy Clinical Trial for Pyruvate Kinase DeficiencySession Title: Blood DiseasesSession Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019Session Time: 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM CESTRoom: 211

Title: Broad Applicability of NHEJ-Mediated Gene Editing to Correct Mutations in a Variety of Fanconi Anaemia GenesSession Title: New Approaches in Gene EditingSession Date: Friday, October 25, 2019Session Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CESTRoom: 113-115

Title: Stable Transduction of Long-Term HSCs Under Optimized GMP-Conditions for the Gene Therapy of LAD-I PatientsSession Title: Poster Session IISession Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019Session Time: 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM CESTPoster Number: P228

Full results from the ESGCT presentations will be available online at the conclusion of the presentation: https://www.rocketpharma.com/esgct-presentations/

About Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKT) (Rocket) is an emerging, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing first-in-class gene therapy treatment options for rare, devastating diseases. Rockets multi-platform development approach applies the well-established lentiviral vector (LVV) and adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) gene therapy platforms. Rocket's first two clinical programs using LVV-based gene therapy are for the treatment of Fanconi Anemia (FA), a difficult to treat genetic disease that leads to bone marrow failure and potentially cancer, and Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency-I (LAD-I), a severe pediatric genetic disorder that causes recurrent and life-threatening infections which are frequently fatal. Rockets first clinical program using AAV-based gene therapy is for Danon disease, a devastating, pediatric heart failure condition. Rockets pre-clinical pipeline programs for bone marrow-derived disorders are for Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD) and Infantile Malignant Osteopetrosis (IMO). For more information about Rocket, please visit http://www.rocketpharma.com.

Rocket Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsVarious statements in this release concerning Rocket's future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, Rocket's expectations regarding the safety, effectiveness and timing of product candidates that Rocket may develop, to treat Fanconi Anemia (FA), Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency-I (LAD-I), Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD), Infantile Malignant Osteopetrosis (IMO) and Danon disease, and the safety, effectiveness and timing of related pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, may constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions. You should not place reliance on these forward-looking statements, which often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will give," "estimate," "seek," "will," "may," "suggest" or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Although Rocket believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Rocket cannot guarantee such outcomes. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, Rocket's ability to successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of such products and pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, its gene therapy programs, the pre-clinical and clinical results for its product candidates, which may not support further development and marketing approval, the potential advantages of Rocket's product candidates, actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials of its product candidates, Rocket's and its licensors ability to obtain, maintain and protect its and their respective intellectual property, the timing, cost or other aspects of a potential commercial launch of Rocket's product candidates, Rocket's ability to manage operating expenses, Rocket's ability to obtain additional funding to support its business activities and establish and maintain strategic business alliances and new business initiatives, Rocket's dependence on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of product candidates, the outcome of litigation, and unexpected expenditures, as well as those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Rocket's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and Rocket undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Rocket Pharmaceuticals Announces Upcoming Presentations at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Annual Congress - Business Wire

As Biotechnology businesses, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:SPPI) and Provention Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:PRVB), are affected by compare. This especially applies to their profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings and valuation.

Valuation and Earnings

Table 1 highlights Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Provention Bio Inc.s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Profitability

Table 2 provides us Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Provention Bio Inc.s return on equity, net margins and return on assets.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Provention Bio Inc. has shares held by institutional investors as follows: 75.6% and 6.3%. Insiders held 1.3% of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. shares. On the other hand, insiders held about 7.2% of Provention Bio Inc.s shares.

Performance

Here are the Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Half Yearly, Yearly and YTD Performance of both pretenders.

For the past year Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. had bearish trend while Provention Bio Inc. had bullish trend.

Summary

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. beats Provention Bio Inc. on 5 of the 9 factors.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops and commercializes oncology and hematology drug products. The company markets six drug products, including FUSILEV for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and rescue after high-dose methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma, and to diminish toxicity and counteract the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination and of inadvertent overdosage of folic acid antagonists; FOLOTYN, a folate analogue metabolic inhibitor to treat patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL; ZEVALIN injection for patients with follicular non-Hodgkins lymphoma; MARQIBO, a sphingomyelin/cholesterol liposome-encapsulated formulation for adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia; BELEODAQ injection for patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL; and EVOMELA for use as a conditioning treatment prior to autologous stem cell transplant in multiple myeloma patients. It is also developing ROLONTIS for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia; QAPZOLA for intravesical instillation in post-transurethral resection of bladder tumors in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer; and POZIOTINIB for treating breast and lung cancer. The company sells its drugs through a direct sales force in the United States; and through distributors in Europe. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has licensing and development agreement with Cell Therapeutics, Inc.; license agreement with Merck & Cie AG, Sloan-Kettering Institute, and Cydex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; development and commercialization collaboration agreement with Allergan, Inc.; collaboration agreement with Nippon Kayaku Co., LTD.; licensing and collaboration agreement with Onxeo DK; and co-development and commercialization agreement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Company. The company was formerly known as NeoTherapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in December 2002. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada.

Provention Bio, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics and cutting-edge solutions to intercept and prevent immune-mediated diseases. Its products candidates include PRV-031 teplizumab and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that is in Phase III clinical trial for the interception of type one diabetes (T1D); PRV-6527, oral CSF-1R inhibitor, which is in Phase 2a clinical trial for the treatment of Crohn's disease; PRV-300, anti-TLR3 mAb, which is in Phase 1b clinical trial for the treatment of ulcerative colitis; PRV-3279 for the treatment of lupus; and PRV-101, a multivalent coxsackie virus vaccine for the prevention of acute Coxsackie Virus B Vaccine and the prevention of the onset of T1D. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is based in Oldwick, New Jersey.

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Comparing of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SPPI) and Provention Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:PRVB) - MS Wkly

As Biotechnology businesses, Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIL) and Cidara Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:CDTX), are affected by compare. This especially applies to their risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, earnings and valuation, institutional ownership.

Valuation and Earnings

In table 1 we can see Trillium Therapeutics Inc. and Cidara Therapeutics Inc.s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Profitability

Table 2 has Trillium Therapeutics Inc. and Cidara Therapeutics Inc.s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Institutional investors held 40.67% of Trillium Therapeutics Inc. shares and 69.6% of Cidara Therapeutics Inc. shares. Insiders held 0.26% of Trillium Therapeutics Inc. shares. Insiders Comparatively, held 1.5% of Cidara Therapeutics Inc. shares.

Performance

Here are the Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Half Yearly, Yearly and YTD Performance of both pretenders.

For the past year Trillium Therapeutics Inc.s stock price has bigger decline than Cidara Therapeutics Inc.

Summary

On 6 of the 9 factors Trillium Therapeutics Inc. beats Cidara Therapeutics Inc.

Trillium Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, develops therapies for the treatment of cancer. The companys lead program is TTI-621, a SIRPaFc fusion protein that acts a soluble decoy receptor preventing CD47 from delivering its inhibitory signal, which is in Phase I clinical trial for advanced hematologic malignancies and solid tumors therapy. Its product candidates also include TTI-622, an IgG4 SIRPaFc protein for combination therapy; bromodomain inhibitor; and epidermal growth factor receptor antagonist, which are in preclinical development stage, as well as undisclosed immuno-oncology targets that are in the discovery Phase. The company was formerly known as Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. and changed its name to Trillium Therapeutics Inc. in June 2014. Trillium Therapeutics Inc. was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada.

Cidara Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel anti-infectives for the treatment of various diseases. Its lead product candidate is CD101 IV, a novel molecule in the echinocandin class of antifungals for the treatment and prevention of serious, invasive fungal infections. The company also develops CD201, a novel bispecific antimicrobial immunotherapy for the treatment of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections, including those caused by pathogens harboring the mcr-1 plasmid. In addition, it develops a proprietary immunotherapy technology platform Cloudbreak, which is designed to create compounds that direct immune system to attack and eliminate bacterial, fungal or viral pathogens. The company was formerly known as K2 Therapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. in June 2014. Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2012 and is based in San Diego, California.

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Comparing of Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (TRIL) and Cidara Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:CDTX) - MS Wkly

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio has been monitoring the global diabetic neuropathy drugs market since 2016 and the market is poised to grow by USD 866.72 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of about 6% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages

Read the 135-page research report with TOC on "Diabetic Neuropathy Drugs Market Analysis Report by Mechanism of action (calcium channel alpha-2-delta ligand, SNRIs and TCAs, and others), by Geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW), and Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2023."

The market is driven by the approval of new drugs and the presence of a strong drug pipeline. In addition, the development of novel biologics to treat diabetic neuropathy is anticipated to further boost the growth of the diabetic neuropathy drugs market.

Market vendors are increasingly focusing on the development of disease-modifying drugs to treat diabetic neuropathy due to its growing prevalence. The market is witnessing an increase in the number of approvals of drugs such as LYRICA CR extended-release tablets. These drugs are used to manage neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In addition, there are several drugs that are in the last-stages of the pipeline. VM202 is an investigational therapy that is currently in Phase III clinical trials. Thus, approval of such new drugs and the presence of a strong drug pipeline is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

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Major Five Diabetic Neuropathy Drugs Market Companies:

Pfizer Inc.

Pfizer Inc. is headquartered in the US and owns and operates businesses under various segments such as innovative health and essential health. The company offers LYRICA and NEURONTIN. LYRICA is used to treat diabetic nerve pain.

Novartis AG

Novartis AG is headquartered in Switzerland and manufactures products through several business segments such as innovative medicines, sandoz, and alcon. The company offers Tegretol, which is an anticonvulsant medication used in the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. is headquartered in the US and has business operations under various segments, namely pharmaceutical, medical devices, and consumer. The company offers NUCYNTA, which is an opioid analgesic used to treat diabetic neuropathy pain.

Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company is headquartered in the US and offers products through business segments such as human pharmaceutical products and animal health products. The company offers CYMBALTA, which is used to treat neuropathic pain.

DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED

DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED is headquartered in Japan and offers products through business segments such as innovative pharmaceuticals business and generic business. The company offers Tarlige, which is used to treat peripheral neuropathic pain.

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Diabetic Neuropathy Drugs Mechanism of Action Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2023)

Diabetic Neuropathy Drugs Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2023)

Technavios sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report

Related Reports on Health Care are:

Pericarditis Drugs Market Global Pericarditis Drugs Market by product (NSAIDs, colchicine, and others) and geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW).

Blepharitis Drugs Market Global Blepharitis Drugs Market by product (steroids and antibiotics) and geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW).

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Diabetic Neuropathy Drugs Market 2019-2023 | Evolving Opportunities with Pfizer Inc. and Novartis AG | Technavio - Business Wire

Anxiety is a common response to an increasingly demanding society and work culture. We are surrounded by physical and mental stressors that may impact the body in ways that mirror peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

For caregivers and patients suffering from familial amyloid polyneuropathy, it is important to be aware of how stress affects peripheral neuropathy symptoms and to distinguish the differences in bodily reactions to these stressors.

The symptoms of stress may be similar to those of peripheral neuropathy. That includes the constricting of blood vessels due to hyperventilation and seemingly hyperactive nerve activity.

Patients who are prone to anxiety attacks must be aware of how their hands, feet, and arms are feeling. The constriction of blood cells caused by hyperventilation may increase tingling and burning sensations in the peripheral nerves. Patients and caregivers should be aware of how reduced blood flow due to hyperventilation may impact existing peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

Anxiety may also cause increased nerve reactions in the body. The increase in nerve firings may cause cramps and symptoms similar to nerve damage. As these symptoms may feel similar to those caused by peripheral neuropathy, caregivers and patients must be diligent in having both topical treatments and stress-relieving exercises readily available.

Breathing exercises may help patients relax during times of increased stress. During hyperventilation, patients should breathe in deeply, holding each breath for a few seconds and then slowly breathing out for seven to 10 seconds. This exercise helps patients relax their bodies and may help to reduce the effects of hyperventilation caused by anxiety.

Spending time with loved ones helps patients distract themselves from stressors that may cause anxiety. Being around people whose company a patient enjoys may help increase feelings of happiness. Activities may include spending time with children, traveling with family, or spending holidays together.

My mother-in-laws preferred method of battling anxiety and depression is by spending time with her loved ones. She is rooted in her family. The time spent with them provides her with a sense of purpose and a distraction from her bodily pains. They are her support center when she needs it.

Massage therapy may help patients relax their bodies and reduce the impact of peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Relaxing the body is an effective way to mitigate the effects of anxiety. When pursuing massage therapy, caregivers need to understand their patients thresholds for touch. Applied pressure may cause increased pain and essentially negate the desired outcome for massage therapy.

Massage therapy may include self-administered massages, professional massages, and foot massages. The ultimate goal for patients pursuing massage therapy for anxiety is to relax the body while providing a mental distraction that reduces the symptoms.

What are some ways that you reduce stress or anxiety? Please share in the comments below.

***

Note: FAP News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of FAP News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to familial amyloid polyneuropathy.

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How Caregivers and Patients Can Manage Bodily Responses to Stress - FAP News Today

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There has recently been an increase in need for Pain Medicine Experts to perform Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs) and act as Expert Witnesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. To fill the demand, California Medical Evaluators (CME) has added several pain medicine expert witnesses to its network of board-certified and highly competent doctors.

A Pain Medicine IME is performed by a board-certified pain medicine expert who uses his/her expertise to evaluate the physical condition of an individual who sustained an injury outside of the workplace. Pain Medicine Experts focus on the evaluation, treatment and prevention of pain. Conditions that pain medicine experts treat include chronic pain, arthritis, back and neck pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and headaches.

One of the most common conditions treated by pain medicine experts is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), which is a condition that usually affects one limb, most often occurring after an injury. It is characterized by excessive or prolonged pain and changes in temperature, swelling and skin color in the affected area. CRPS is not easily identifiable, which makes it necessary to have a pain medicine expert evaluate any individual who believes he or she may suffer from the condition.

California Medical Evaluators has over 150 medical experts in all specialties available for IMEs and Expert Witness Testimony throughout the state of California. Dr. Joseph Sclafani and Dr. Mikiko Murakami are two of CMEs newest Pain Medicine Experts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Both are highly experienced with all types of spine, nerve, joint and muscle pain, including CRPS, cervical radiculopathy, rotator cuff tendonitis, low back issues, and peripheral neuropathy such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

For more information about California Medical Evaluators or to request a pain medicine expert, visit calmedeval.com.

About California Medical Evaluators

California Medical Evaluators (CME) is a leading provider of Med-Legal Practice Management services to physicians who perform Qualified Medical Examinations (QMEs), Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) and medical expert witness engagements. CMEs broad network of qualified physician experts perform over 5,000 medical-legal examinations annually. Founded in 2010 by physicians, CME has become a leader in QME practice management, while also providing IME services, fitness for duty evaluations, and disability evaluations for the legal and insurance industries. More information about CME can be found at CalMedEval.com or by calling (888)-853-7944.

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California Medical Evaluators Grows its Network of Pain Medicine Experts in the San Francisco Bay Area - Business Wire

Research at the Roslin Institute is focusing on identifying genes linked with fat production and muscular development in pigs, with a view to producing leaner animals or more meat from fewer animals.

The team aims to grow cells that can be used to produce muscle and fat in the laboratory tohelp identify specific variants of genes in pigs that are linked with generating leaner or fatter meat.Eventually, the researchers say thiswould create the potential for such genes to be bred out, leading to leaner pigs which produce more meat.

Thousands of genes are potentially involved in the production of fat and muscle, which means it is difficult to carry out this research with cells taken from live pigs. The team is instead carrying out work, in collaboration with an industry partner, to generate a laboratory model of pig muscle.

Their partner, Stemnovate, will provide expertise in stem cells and 3D tissue engineering. The company was funded by Innovate UK in support of advancing organs on silicon chip systems, which seek to simulate artificial organs for study in the lab.

Instead of periodically having to obtain muscle tissue from pigs, we want to be able to grow stem cells for long periods in culture, and use them whenever we need to produce muscle in the lab, says Xavier Donadeu, group leader at the Roslin Institute.

It will be an exciting project the ability to grow muscle cells in the lab and engineer for production is highly valuable for the potential industrial applications, saysRuchi Sharma,CEO, Stemnovate

The project has recruited a PhD student who will work in the Roslin Institute and undertake a three-month work placement with Stemnovate in Cambridge.The studentship is funded by the East of Scotland Bioscience doctoral training partnership, supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Source: Roslin Institute, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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Stem cell studies look toward producing leaner pigs with more meat - National Hog Farmer

Stem cell therapy, which All Blacks prop Owen Franks used to help fix a damaged shoulder, is raising hopes of a whole range of medical breakthroughs.

But there's a way to go before the medical establishment is convinced.

In late 2017, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner ScottGottliebhad this to say:"We're at the beginning of a paradigm change in medicine with the promise of being able to facilitate regeneration of parts of the human body, where cells and tissues can be engineered to grow healthy, functional organs to replace diseased ones; new genes can be introduced into the body to combat disease; and adult stem cells can generate replacements for cells that are lost to injury or disease."

REGEN CELLULAR

Dr Hassan Mubark takes blood from All Blacks prop Owen Franks.

Yet, as an indication of how far there is still to go, the FDA has also warnedpeople in the USagainst "unscrupulous providers" offering stem cell products that were unapproved and unproven.

READ MORE:*Rugby World Cup 2019: All Black Owen Franks thrown a stem cell lifeline*Owen Franks hits back at critics following omission from Rugby World Cup squad*Stem cell therapy for All Black Israel Dagg as he hits comeback trail with Crusaders*Experimental stem cell treatment shows results for Waikato woman with MSA Cerebella*Stem cell clinics accused of taking advantage of patients*Reported stem cell treatment could give hope to Michael Schumacher

"Researchers hope stem cells will one day be effective in the treatment of many medical conditions and diseases," it said, thenadded: "Stem cells have been called everything from cure-alls to miracle treatments. But don't believe the hype."

Looking at just the area of deteriorating joints, it's easy to see how stem cell therapies, if they deliver on the promise,could make life much better for many people with osteoarthritis who are in pain and have restricted movement.

Last week, Otago University researchers predictedthe number of knee replacement surgeries needed for osteoarthritis would increase from around 5000 a year in 2013 to abut9000 in 2038.

AP

Former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher received devastating head injuries in a ski accident six years ago. Last month it was reported he has undergone stem cell treatment in Paris.

Osteoarthritis is the area where ReGen Cellular,the clinic where Franks had the therapy, has done most of its work in the past two to three years, although ithas recently expanded its services to include a range of diagnosed auto-immune conditions, among them rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.

ReGensaid 55 per cent of its patients were aged over 60, 35 per cent were 40-60 and 10 per cent were sports-based.

Theclinic usesPure Expanded Stem Cell (PESC) therapy, which involves taking 40 grams - about a teaspoon - of fat from around a patient's stomach. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)in that sample are then multiplied in the clinic's Queenstown laboratory for about eight weeks. At the end of that process 100 million to 200 million cells have been produced.

Otago University

Otago University, Christchurch regenerative medicine research team have invented a bio-ink - a gel-like substance mixed with human stem cells - to be used with a bio-printer to make human body parts. Video shows the printer using bio-ink to make a body part.

For the treatment of osteoarthritis, between 50m and 100m stem cells are injected into larger joints, with 25m to 50m into smaller joints. ReGen said the therapy provided immediate pain reduction and increased mobility. MRI scans showed cartilage could and did regenerate.

ReGendescribedMSCs as the cells that "wake up damaged or lazy cells". Slightly more technically, Nature.com said MSCs wereadult stem cells present in multiple tissues, including the umbilical cord, bone marrow and fat.MSCscan self-renew by dividing and can differentiate into multiple tissues including bone, cartilage, muscle and fat cells, and connective tissue.

ReGen director of patient care Marcelle Noble said the clinic believed its treatments, if offered early enough, would save the public health system hundreds of millions of dollars through lessened replacement surgeries, and would save ACC millions of dollars in lengthy rehabilitation programmes.

The treatment for two knees was half the price of one knee replacement surgery within the public health system, she said. ReGen advertises osteoarthritis treatment for a single joint at $12,500 and for two joints at $15,000.

GETTY IMAGES

Former All Black Israel Dagg had stem cell therapy for an injured knee, but in the end had to give the game away because of the injury.

So far mainstream funding hadnot been offered for the therapy, Noble said. But the clinic had a "big breakthrough" earlier this year when two insurers in New Zealand accepted patients'PESC therapy claims. In July, ACC accepted consultation by ReGen's chief medical officer Dr Hassan Mubark.

ReGen only had data for the past five years on the success of its therapy, but the fact patients were returning to have other areas of their body treated was an indication of how people feltthe therapy was improving their quality of life, Noble said.

Globally, "massive" R&D spending was going into stem cell research. More therapies would become available and stem cell treatment would become "commonplace".

At any one time ReGen had 50-75 patients' cells growing in its incubators, Noble said. Of the patients treated, 40 per cent hadailments in therknees, 30 per cent in their hips, 20 per cent in their shoulders. The final 10 per cent were for sports and other issues, including problems with tendons, muscles, cartilage tears, fingers, elbows, ankles and hands.

SUPPLIED

Dr Ron Lopert undergoing part of the PESC treatment.

The first patient to undertake ReGen's PESC therapy was retired GP Dr Ron Lopert, who lives in Tauranga.

For five to 10 years, he had beengetting aches and pains in his hips after playing sport, and the problem was becoming more noticeable, he said. In 2013 he had an x-ray that showed he had moderate to severe osteoarthritis in both hips,more severein his right hip.

He stopped playing all sports and started researching different forms of treatment. Ideally, he wanted to be able to get some of his own cartilage back and reverse the osteoarthritis. It seemedPESCshould do that.

In 2015, aged 61, he had the therapy, with stem cells being injected into each hip joint.Within weeks henoticed an improvement in the range of motion and a decrease in pain, Lopert said.Some of that was just the anti-inflammatory component of stem cell injection, but he thought he also received a longer term benefit from cartilage regeneration.

SUPPLIED

Dr Lopert on his recent travels. He says he has much less hip pain.

He put the success of the procedure at75 per centin terms of symptoms and function, and100 per cent when it came to avoiding invasive surgery."I opted for a much more natural treatment where my own tissue is regenerating, instead of a metal prosthesis," Lopert said.

He was not sure all the improvement came from the stem cell treatment. As well as avoiding overuse of the joints, which meant he hadn't returned to playing sport, he had also switched to an anti-inflammatory diet.

His left hip continued to have hardly any symptomsbut he had started noticing the "odd twinge now and then" in his right hip.

"The vast majority of days it's fine provided I'm just walking and doing ordinary things. On the odd occasion I might carry something heavy, then I would notice it the next day and it (right hip) would stay painfulintermittentlyfor the next couple of days," Lopert said.

Sean Gallup

In this picture from February, German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks through a microscope at brain organoids grown from stem cells.

Some of his stem cells had been retained after the treatment, and he was booked in for a follow-up injection for his right hip at the end of October.

He expected the therapy would become a "go to" treatment, and would become an early intervention for osteoarthritis. But more independent research was needed to confirm the success of the treatment. "The evidence is slowly building up but there needs to be more before the Government will accept it," Lopert said.

In his case, he thought there had been cartilage regeneration in his hips, but that was based on his symptoms. "It would have been nice had I had MRI scans before and after the injection for objective evidence," he said.

From the perspective of the medical establishment, the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association said it supported a position statement on stem cell therapy produced by the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

That paper, approved in mid-2018,noted stem cell therapy was a "rapidly advancing" area, but many proposed stem cell therapies were experimental and not yet proven. It did not support surgeons administering stem cell therapy outside of an ethically approved registered clinical trial.

"Whilst there may be scope for innovative treatment in the future, currently, the clinical effectiveness and safety of stem cell therapies remain scientifically unproven," RACS said.

In this country, an ACC spokesperson said ACC did not have an official position on stem cell therapy for the treatment of injuries. An internationally standardised evidence-based healthcare approach was used to help ACC decide how it covered injuries and funded treatments.

Dr HassanMubark, ReGen's chief medical officer, was a healthcare provider contracted to ACC in the specialty of rheumatology, and ACC had funded consultation fees with Mubark, the spokesperson said. Those consultations were for diagnostic and treatment planning purposes and did not need prior approval from ACC.

ACC had to consider legislative criteria when deciding whether to fund any particular treatment. There would be many reasons why ACC might decide to fund a client to see a rheumatologist for an opinion on the diagnosis and possible management of their condition. That would not commit ACC to funding any proposed treatment but would provide the client and ACC with information to help decision-making.

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New research links a genetic anomaly and some forms of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, which claims the lives of more than 3,000 infants a year.

The research, published in Nature Communications, focuses on mitochondrial tri-functional protein deficiency, a potentially fatal cardiac metabolic disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the gene HADHA.

Newborns with this genetic anomaly cant metabolize the lipids found in milk, and die suddenly of cardiac arrest when they are a couple months old. Lipids are a category of molecules that include fats, cholesterol, and fatty acids.

There are multiple causes for sudden infant death syndrome, says Hannele Ruohola-Baker, professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who is also associate director of the Medicine Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.

There are some causes which are environmental. But what were studying here is really a genetic cause of SIDS. In this particular case, it involves defect in the enzyme that breaks down fat.

Lead author Jason Miklas, who earned his PhD at the University of Washington and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, says he first came up with the idea while researching heart disease and noticed a small research study that had examined children who couldnt process fats and who had cardiac disease that was not readily explained.

So he and Ruohola-Baker started looking into why heart cells, grown to mimic infant cells, died in the petri dish where they were growing.

If a child has a mutation, depending on the mutation the first few months of life can be very scary as the child may die suddenly, Miklas says. An autopsy wouldnt necessarily pick up why the child passed but we think it might be due to the infants heart stopping to beat.

Were no longer just trying to treat the symptoms of the disease, Miklas says. Were trying to find ways to treat the root problem. Its very gratifying to see that we can make real progress in the lab toward interventions that could one day make their way to the clinic.

In MTP deficiency, the heart cells of affected infants dont convert fats into nutrients properly, resulting in a build-up of unprocessed fatty material that can disrupt heart functions. More technically, the breakdown occurs when enzymes fail to complete a process known as fatty acid oxidation. It is possible to screen for the genetic markers of MTP deficiency; but effective treatments remain a ways off.

Ruohola-Baker says the latest laboratory discovery is a big step towards finding ways to overcome SIDS.

There is no cure for this, she says. But there is now hope, because weve found a new aspect of this disease that will innovate generations of novel small molecules and designed proteins, which might help these patients in the future.

One drug the group is focusing on is Elamipretide, used to stimulate hearts and organs that have oxygen deficiency, but barely considered for helping infant hearts, until now. In addition, prospective parents can undergo screening to see if there is a chance that they could have a child who might carry the mutation.

Ruohola-Baker has a personal interest in the research: one of her friends in Finland, her home country, had a baby who died of SIDS.

It was absolutely devastating for that couple, she says. Since then, Ive been very interested in the causes for sudden infant death syndrome. Its very exciting to think that our work may contribute to future treatments, and help for the heartbreak for the parents who find their children have these mutations.

The National Institutes of Health, the Academy of Finland, Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research of Canada, an Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Scholarship, and the National Science Foundation funded the work.

Source: University of Washington

Original Study DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12482-1

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Some cases of SIDS may have this genetic cause - Futurity: Research News

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq:INCY) today announced positive results from the Novartis-sponsored pivotal Phase 3 REACH2 study evaluating ruxolitinib (Jakafi) in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The study met its primary endpoint of improving overall response rate (ORR) at Day 28 with ruxolitinib treatment compared to best available therapy. No new safety signals were observed, and the ruxolitinib safety profile in REACH2 was consistent with that seen in previously reported studies in steroid-refractory acute GVHD.

Further analysis of the safety and efficacy data is ongoing. Novartis expects to initiate discussions with ex-U.S. regulatory authorities in 2020, and to submit REACH2 results for presentation at an upcoming scientific meeting.

GVHD is a challenging and serious disease, and physicians around the world need access to therapies that can improve outcomes for patients, said Peter Langmuir, M.D., Group Vice President, Targeted Therapies, Incyte. This positive result of the REACH2 study is excellent news for patients as it further reinforces the potential of ruxolitinib as a treatment option that can provide meaningful results for patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD.

GVHD is a condition that can occur after an allogeneic transplant (the transfer of stem cells from a donor) where the donated cells initiate an immune response and attack the transplant recipients organs, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. There are two major forms of GVHD, acute and chronic, that can affect multiple organ systems including the skin, gastrointestinal (digestive) tract and liver.

Earlier this year, Jakafi was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older based on results of the REACH1 trial. Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the U.S.; ruxolitinib (Jakavi) is licensed to Novartis ex-U.S.

In addition, the pivotal REACH3 trial evaluating ruxolitinib in patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD is ongoing. A recent interim efficacy and safety analysis conducted by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee has recommended that REACH3, which is co-sponsored by Incyte and Novartis, should continue without modification. The results of the REACH3 trial are expected to be available in 2020.

About REACH2

REACH2 (NCT02913261) is a randomized, open-label, multicenter Phase 3 study sponsored by Novartis, evaluating safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib compared with best available therapy in patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD.

The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) at Day 28, defined as the proportion of patients demonstrating a best overall response (complete response or partial response). Secondary endpoints include durable ORR at Day 56, ORR at Day 14, duration of response, overall survival and event-free survival, among others. For more information about the study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02913261.

About REACH

The REACH clinical trial program is evaluating Jakafi in patients with steroid-refractory GVHD and includes the collaborative Novartis-sponsored randomized pivotal Phase 3 trials: REACH2 and REACH3. The ongoing REACH3 trial is evaluating patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD with results expected next year. For more information about the REACH3 study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03112603.

The REACH program was initiated with the Incyte-sponsored REACH1 trial, a prospective, open-label, single-cohort, multicenter, pivotal Phase 2 trial (NCT02953678) evaluating Jakafi in combination with corticosteroids in patients with steroid-refractory grade II-IV acute GVHD. For more information about the study, including trial results, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02953678.

About Jakafi (ruxolitinib)

Jakafi is a first-in-class JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor approved by the U.S. FDA for treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

Jakafi is also indicated for treatment of polycythemia vera (PV) in adults who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea as well as adults with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF and post-essential thrombocythemia MF.

Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the United States and by Novartis as Jakavi (ruxolitinib) outside the United States. Jakafi is a registered trademark of Incyte Corporation. Jakavi is a registered trademark of Novartis AG in countries outside the United States.

Important Safety Information

Jakafi can cause serious side effects, including:

Low blood counts: Jakafi (ruxolitinib) may cause your platelet, red blood cell, or white blood cell counts to be lowered. If you develop bleeding, stop taking Jakafi and call your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will perform blood tests to check your blood counts before you start Jakafi and regularly during your treatment. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Jakafi or stop your treatment based on the results of your blood tests. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop or have worsening symptoms such as unusual bleeding, bruising, tiredness, shortness of breath, or a fever.

Infection: You may be at risk for developing a serious infection during treatment with Jakafi. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms of infection: chills, nausea, vomiting, aches, weakness, fever, painful skin rash or blisters.

Skin cancers: Some people who take Jakafi have developed certain types of non-melanoma skin cancers. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any new or changing skin lesions.

Increases in cholesterol: You may have changes in your blood cholesterol levels. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels during your treatment with Jakafi.

The most common side effects of Jakafi include: for certain types of MF and PV - low platelet count, low red blood cell count, bruising, dizziness, and headache; and for acute GVHD low red blood cell counts, low platelet counts, low white blood cell counts, infections and fluid retention.

These are not all the possible side effects of Jakafi. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Before taking Jakafi, tell your healthcare provider about: all the medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking and all your medical conditions, including if you have an infection, have or had tuberculosis (TB), or have been in close contact with someone who has TB, have or had hepatitis B, have or had liver or kidney problems, are on dialysis, have a high level of fat in your blood (high blood cholesterol or triglycerides), had skin cancer or have any other medical condition. Take Jakafi exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Do not change or stop taking Jakafi without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Women should not take Jakafi while pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed during treatment with Jakafi and for 2 weeks after the final dose.

Full Prescribing Information, which includes a more complete discussion of the risks associated with Jakafi, is available at http://www.jakafi.com.

About Incyte

Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Companys website at http://www.incyte.com.

Follow @Incyte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Incyte.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding whether and when the REACH2 data will be presented, when results from the REACH3 study will be available, and the effect of the REACH2 results on patients with GVHD, contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: unanticipated delays; further research and development and the results of clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; determinations made by the FDA; the Companys dependence on its relationships with its collaboration partners; the efficacy or safety of the Companys products and the products of the Companys collaboration partners; the acceptance of the Companys products and the products of the Companys collaboration partners in the marketplace; market competition; sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution requirements; greater than expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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Incyte Announces that the REACH2 Pivotal Trial of Ruxolitinib (Jakafi) Meets Primary Endpoint in Patients with Steroid-Refractory Acute...

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (AgeX; NYSE American: AGE), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics for human aging and regeneration, announced today that founder and CEO Michael D. West, PhD will deliver a presentation titled The Age-Related Metabolic Program as part of a session at Metabesity 2019, October 15-16 in Washington, DC.

Details of the session follow.

Wednesday, October 16Carnegie Institution for Science 1530 P Street NWWashington, DC 20005

9:40-10:45am Panel Session: Clinical Development Issues Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. West will be joined on the panel by:

The full event program is available here.

A copy of the presentation will be available on the Investors section of the companys website at http://www.agexinc.com.

About AgeX Therapeutics

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: AGE) is focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for human aging. Its PureStem and UniverCyte manufacturing and immunotolerance technologies are designed to work together to generate highly defined, universal, allogeneic, off-the-shelf pluripotent stem cell-derived young cells of any type for application in a whole host of diseases with a high unmet medical need. AgeX has two preclinical cell therapy programs: AGEX-VASC1 (vascular progenitor cells) for tissue ischemia and AGEX-BAT1 (brown fat cells) for Type II diabetes. AgeXs revolutionary longevity platform named induced Tissue Regeneration (iTR) aims to unlock cellular immortality and regenerative capacity to reverse age-related changes within tissues. AGEX-iTR1547 is an iTR-based formulation in preclinical development. HyStem is AgeXs delivery technology to stably engraft PureStem cell therapies and slowly release iTR molecules in the body. AgeX is developing its core product pipeline for use in the clinic to extend human healthspan, and is seeking opportunities to form licensing and partnership agreements around its broad IP estate and proprietary technology platforms for non-core clinical applications.

For more information, please visit http://www.agexinc.com or connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical fact including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates should also be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in more detail in AgeXs reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (copies of which may be obtained at http://www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. AgeX specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

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AgeX Therapeutics to Present at Metabesity 2019 - Business Wire

The wellness field can be confusing to navigate. A seemingly endless number of companies offer a wide range of products, and it can be difficult to know where to turn with specific ailments. To shed some light on this area, we wanted to look at a leader in the field, LifeWave, and offer a review of the company and its products. Read on to learn more about how LifeWave uses innovative methods to help its customers meet a range of wellness goals.

Company Origins

One thing that sets the company apart from others in the wellness field is its origins and leadership. Founded in 2004 by CEO David Schmidt, the companys technology was born out of his research onthe use of phototherapy to improve several processes in the body. At present, the CEO holds over 100 patents and patents pending related to his technology and has made extensive headway in the field of regenerative science and technology. He has also used his background in business and product development to promote his findings and bring his technology to the companys wide customer base.

In his experiences prior to the creation of LifeWave, he worked with numerous organizations to develop innovative solutions to difficult problems. He helped createnew methods of producing hydrogen and oxygen, prototyped new turbine power generation systems, and helped design alternative rocket engines. During this period, he first conceived of the ideas that would become the basis for his wellness company, including the concept of using the bodys fat-burning pathways as an alternative means of raising energy levels without stimulants.

Phototherapy

Before looking at the companys offerings, lets first examine the field of phototherapy, which is intricately connected to much of LifeWaves work. Phototherapy, at its most fundamental level, is the process of using light to promote wellness in the body. This is a well-established scientific field with a wide range of applications in modern wellness. For instance, sunlight exposure is commonly used to raise levels of vitamin D in those who are deficient. Laser light is also used in several procedures. Infrared saunas are another frequently utilized wellness tool.

While many other phototherapies rely on a device or other external means of generating light, LifeWaves wellness products reflect light back onto the body to achieve results. This is done using topical patches of different designs and placements tailored to the desired outcomes. As infrared light generated by the body hits the patches, specific frequencies of light are reflected back into the bodys tissue to elicit wellness-promoting effects at the cellular level.

Examples of LifeWaves Offerings

To help illustrate how the company applied its phototherapy technology, we first looked at some of its original products that have been popular with customers from the start. One such product is its Energy Enhancer Patch. This patch has been shown to increase energy and endurance and has been used by many customers to support a physical fitness routine. Like the companys other offerings, the patches provide energy boosts without the use of drugs to provide wellness benefits that arent encumbered by the side effects that many pharmaceuticals can cause.

The companys energy patches came to national prominence when LifeWave began working with Richard Quick, the iconic coach of the Stanford University womens swim team. Schmidt saw an opportunity to show Quick the benefits of the patches by helping the team improve its athletic performance. The team began using the patches, and a mere three weeks later, 75 percent of the team had broken personal lifetime records. The team believed so deeply in the beneficial effects of the patches that they even brought them to their Olympic swimming trials. When the patches were featured in the spotlight of the national media, they gained attention quickly. Soon, the patches had a large and growing base of satisfied customers.

New Developments

The success of LifeWaves energy patches and other products has helped pave the way for a new product line that has been creating excitement in an entirely new area the field of longevity science. This product, the companys X39 patch, offers customers the potential to promote stem cell activation through phototherapy, a claim that we found interesting due to the many beneficial effects that increased stem cell activity can have on the body. The companys research shows that the patches can have a variety of positive wellness effects, including wound healing, pain relief, improved skin appearance, and improved inflammatory markers.

While these effects are beneficial for people of a wide range of ages, theyre potentially most important for those of advanced age. Thats because our stem cell activity tends to decrease as we get older, and since these cells are the precursors for every cell in our body, when stem cells become less active, we lose one of our key pathways of regeneration. The idea behind the X39 product is to reflect specific frequencies of light into the body, there by resetting stem cells back to where they were during more youthful times in our lives. Though the product is new, it has the potential to become a popular offering based on the effects that it can deliver.

Since wellness companies come in so many different shapes and sizes, it helps to take an overall look at a single company to see the true effectiveness of what it can provide to customers. Looking at the companys origins, product offerings, overarching philosophy, and leadership can all help you evaluate a companys impact on the market. LifeWaves product line stems from a thoughtfully conducted development process by a leadership team that hasa firm background in regenerative technology. These insights, coupled with positive responses to existing products, make the company a solid resource for those looking to improve well-being.

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LifeWave Review: A Look at the Company and What It Offers - Gazette Day

Published: November, 2019

To manage the painful joint disease known as osteoarthritis, people often take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox). But these and related drugs known as NSAIDs may account for the higher rates of heart disease seen in people with osteoarthritis, a new study suggests.

Researchers matched 7,743 people with osteoarthritis with 23,229 healthy people who rarely or never took NSAIDs. People with osteoarthritis had a 42% higher risk of heart failure and a 17% higher risk of coronary artery disease compared with healthy people. After controlling for a range of factors that contribute to heart disease (including high body mass index, high blood pressure, and diabetes), they concluded that 41% of the increased risk of heart disease related to osteoarthritis was due to the use of NSAIDs.

Although this observational study doesn't prove cause and effect, it's already known that routine NSAID use can increase blood pressure, raise the risk of kidney problems, and cause stomach bleeding. For people with osteoarthritis, the findings underscore the importance of taking the lowest possible dose of an NSAID for the shortest possible time. The study appeared in the August 6 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatology.

Image: chapin31/Getty Images

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Pain relievers: A cause of higher heart risk among people with arthritis? - Harvard Health

Used in conjunction with registry data, machine-learning may be a useful tool to predict the occurrence and intensity of persistent pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a recent study published in Pain.

Researchers used data gathered from patient questionnaires (n=789) filled from the time of diagnosis for up to 5 years after diagnosis. A total of 21 parameters were assessed, including sociodemographic variables and factors deemed likely to influence persistent pain.

Unsupervised machine learning was used to identify subgroups within the distribution of patient pain levels. Gaussian mixture models were used to identify subgroups, and overfitting was assessed in all models. Supervised machine learning using Random Forest regression was used to identify the parameters that best predicted the subgroup of patients. The investigators also examined whether the evaluation of parameters at 3 months was optimal for predicting the occurrence and intensity of persistent pain.

After filtering the data to include only those patients with 4 assessments of pain level from 0 to 5 years after diagnosis, the data of 209 women and 79 men were analyzed (average age, 52.2 years). The use of unsupervised machine learning allowed to separate the patients into 3 subgroups according to their level of pain (ie, low, moderate, and high persistent pain). Patient global assessment and health assessment questionnaires administered at 3 months were found to allow to determine to which pain subgroups an individual would belong, using a supervised method. When the analysis was conducted again, excluding these parameters, tender joint count and swollen joint count assessed 3 months after diagnosis were found to be the most important nonpatient-related parameters for the prediction of pain level. For both patient- and nonpatient-related parameters, assessment at the time of diagnosis was not found to be an accurate predictor of persistent pain, as was the case when evaluations were conducted at 3 months.

Study limitations include the fact that this was a registry study, with no starting hypothesis.

The results indicate that early functional parameters of rheumatoid arthritis are informative for the development and degree of persistent pain, however, not earlier than 3 months after rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, concluded the investigators.

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Reference

Ltsch, J, Alfredsson L, Lampa J. Machine-learning based knowledge discovery in rheumatoid arthritis related registry data to identify predictors of persistent pain [published online August 30, 2019]. Pain. doi: 10.1097/j-pain.0000000000001693

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Machine-Learning to Identify Predictors of Persistent Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Clinical Pain Advisor

There is an increase in global age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to results of a systematic analysis published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The analysis also indicated that rising rates of prevalence and incidence could contribute to the increased global burden of RA.

Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) 2017 study, researchers examined the trends in global, regional, and national prevalence, incidence, and associated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in patients with RA. No such global study has been published since 2010.

The GBD 2017 study included 195 countries, 7 super regions, and 21 regions across the globe, from 1990 to 2017; data on 354 diseases and injuries, 282 causes of death, and 84 risk factors were systematically analyzed.

Results of the analysis indicated that there were 19,965,115 globally prevalent cases of RA in 2017 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 17,990,489-21,995,673 cases), with an age-standardized prevalence rate of 246.6 cases/100,000 population (95% UI, 222.4-270.8 cases), which increased by 7.4% between 1990 and 2017.

The trend for global age-standardized DALY rate decreased from 1990 to 2012, but increased and reached higher levels in the subsequent 5 years (2012-2017). At the global level, RA accounted for 3.4 million DALYs (95% UI, 2.6-4.4 million DALYs) with an age-standardized rate of 43.3 DALYs/100,000 population (95% UI, 33.0-54.5 DALYs). The age-standardized DALY rate decreased by 3.6% (95% UI, -9.7% to 0.3%) from 1990 to 2017.

At the regional level, age-standardized RA prevalence was highest in high-income North America, Western Europe, and the Caribbean (377.6, 346.8, and 338.9, respectively), whereas Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest age-standardized rates (100.9, 135.3, and 135.7, respectively).

Age-standardized incidence rates were also highest in high-income North America (22.5), South Asia (20.7), and Western Europe (20.4); Southeast Asia (6.2), Oceania (7.9), and Western Sub-Saharan Africa (8.5) had the lowest rates.

Data from the analysis indicated that the percentage change in age-standardized prevalence rates between 1990 and 2017 was not similar across all GBD 2017 regions: East Asia, high-income North America, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa showed the most increasing significant trends (25%, 19%, and 14%, respectively) compared with Southern Sub-Saharan Africa, high-income Asia-Pacific, and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (-12%, -7%, and -5%), that showed decreasing significant trends.

Although the number of prevalent cases doubled from 1990 to 2017 (10,226,042 to 19,965,115), the contribution of the GBD 2017 regions was different.

At the national level, the age-standardized prevalence rate of RA ranged from 91 to 471 cases/100,000 population, with the highest age-standardized prevalence rates in the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados (471.8, 404.4, and 402.6, respectively). Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Sri Lanka had the lowest rates (91.1, 91.4, and 97.2, respectively). Age-standardized incidence rates ranged from 5.6 to 27.5 cases/100,000 population, with the highest incidence rates in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden.

Overall, the global age-standardized prevalence rate was higher in women, increasing with age and peaking between 70 to 74 years in men and 75 to 79 years in women in 2017.

Researchers noted a nonlinear association at the regional level between age-standardized DALY rate and sociodemographic index. Overall, they identified the lowest age-standardized DALY rate at a sociodemographic index level of 0.43, which they observed increased and decreased intermittently with [sociodemographic index] improvement.

Only high-income North America demonstrated an increase between 1990 and 2017. National-level analyses also identified a nonlinear association; study findings indicated that this association between age-standardized DALY rate, sociodemographic index, and high RA burden was not limited to the most- or less-developed countries.

Increasing population awareness regarding RA, its risk factors, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with disease modifying agents is warranted to reduce the future burden of this condition, the researchers concluded. Improving health data for better monitoring of disease burden and health outcomes are strongly suggested.

Reference

Safiri S, Kolahi AA, Hoy D, et al. Global, regional and national burden of rheumatoid arthritis 1990-2017: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study 2017. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78:1463-1471.

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Global Increase in Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevalence Rates and Disease Burden - Rheumatology Advisor

Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be challenging. When those challenges such as walking or standing limitations, or experiencing brain fog or fatigue make it impossible to work, its possible to apply for replacement disability income. There are two options for this: short-term or long-term disability programs through a current employer, or the federal Social Security Disability Income program.

RELATED: People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Develop Resilience by Dealing With Disease Challenges

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritiscan affect a persons ability to work: Joint issues can make it hard to perform the tasks of a job, such as using repetitive motions or being unable to grip or grasp items appropriately. Fatigue may require a person to stay home and miss work for extended periods of time.

Applying for disability can be a detailed process. Its common for people applying for the federal program to be denied after their first application. But its possible to appeal and to ultimately get approved for disability benefits. The most important takeaway is that you have to be a self-advocate with patience and persistence, saysJessica Boles, a licensed social worker and a patient advocate and community outreach manager for CreakyJointsand the Global Healthy Living Foundation, two resources for people living with arthritis and other chronic illnesses, respectively.

RELATED: 5 Warning Signs That Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Getting Worse

For an employee seeking short- or long-term disability benefits from an employer, the process is typically to fill out paperwork, including relevant medical paperwork, that clearly shows why benefits are needed, says Boles. With a group plan, usually the patient will receive a percentage of what their individual paycheck is. There could be a waiting period before a person could access benefits, and it can get tricky with preexisting treatments, she says.

RELATED:Rheumatoid Arthritis Changes You

For those without a group plan through an employer, there is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a program offered by the Social Security Administration. Per the agency's website, people can apply for SSDI if they are 18 or older, arent already receiving Social Security benefits, cant work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and havent already been denied. (Those who have been denied can appeal the decision; see the section How to Appeal a Disability Benefit Denial, below.)

According to Boles, in terms of approval forSSDI, they've learned that it is more about proving that individuals can't do any job, not simply their own current job. She says, Its more, I cant do any work whatsoever.

The program depends on a persons earning history and whether they paid Social Security benefits through taxes, Boles adds. For people who are self-employed, clarify with the Social Security Administration if that work history qualifies.

RELATED: Smart Tactics to Follow When Applying for Disability Due to Crohn's

If you are applying to an employers disability program, make sure you provide all the paperwork requested and do what is asked of you. For disability programs offered through employers, I dont typically see a lot of denials, says Boles. But in my experience, what I see with SSDI, a lot of folks tend to be denied often. I suggest always consider appealing.

Crucial for applying for any disability program is filling out all the paperwork completely. Talk to your diagnosing physician early before you begin the application process as well as any other physicians who can support the application, said Mirean Coleman, a licensed independent clinical social worker andclinical manager for the National Association of Social Workers based in Washington, DC.

The patient needs to initiate an application first with the Social Security office, and on the application, they would include a list of physicians who are involved in the patients care, Coleman says. The Social Security office would forward papers directly to the physician. Its important for the patient not only to keep things timely but to inform the physician that they intend to apply for disability. That way, the physician can look out for the incoming information and complete the application by the return-by date.

RELATED: Disability Activism: 11 Ways to Make a Difference Today

Since denials can be common, We always encourage the patient not to be discouraged by the denial, says Coleman. The most important thing is to appeal it and to let another decision-making process take place.

Why are applications for benefit denials so common? Applications may lack information, either from a patient or a medical professional. Papers have to be filled out in a concise and detailed way that explains what the disability is, what its impact is on the lifestyle of the patient, and why the patient may need disability at this time, says Coleman.

Working with other professionals can be helpful during the appeals process. When you apply through Social Security, you are typically assigned a social worker, or can request one, to work with, says Boles. Folks may also want to hire an advocate or an attorney who specifically deals with disability rights. The Social Security Administration often has a list of resources online. These include information about how to find someone to work with, as well as tips for those who are representing the applicant.

One resource to use to track RA symptoms and how they affect day-to-day function is the Arthritis Power app, which can maintain a digital record of symptoms. Patients have a hard time remembering what happens between appointments, says Boles. With this app, you can track your symptoms in an app, and you can tell your doctor. It can be easier to extract information and send to a doctor in an app.

Consider getting others to help. Stick with it and appeal the situation, says Coleman. Sometimes people have to appeal several times before they are approved. An attorney can help with the appeal process. A social worker can offer resources to strengthen an application.

For help finding a qualified social worker, the National Association of Social Workers offers itsHelp Starts Here website, where you can find a social worker to help with various concerns, says Coleman. For more details about applying for disability benefits, download theDisability BenefitsPDF brochure from the Social Security Administration, which details the procedure.

Dont let the prospect of a difficult process scare you away from filing an initial application or appealing a denied one.

There is so much stigma in the world for individuals living with chronic illness, says Boles. Patients are paying into these benefits and have a right to access them. If patients cant work, they shouldnt be risking worsening their health and causing more damage to themselves physically and mentally if they continue to work. Its important for people to know they have a right to these benefits.

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Disability Benefits for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Get the Facts - Everyday Health

NEW YORK Social isolation is, unfortunately, a common occurrence among the elderly. While this phenomenon can be traced back to a number of contributing factors, the simple fact that its harder for many older people to move around plays a significant role in this relationship. With this in mind, researchers from the American Geriatrics Society say there may be a link between osteoarthritis, a condition that causes joint pain, and social isolation.

Many people who suffer from arthritis also deal with additional issues that may put them at a greater risk of becoming socially isolated. Examples of such issues include anxiety and depression, fear of moving around due to arthritis pain, physical inactivity, and a lack of ability to properly care for themselves.

Furthermore, arthritis is incredibly common; 30% of adults over the age of 65 deal with some form of arthritis, with leg joints being a commonly affected body part. However, there hasnt been all that much research performed on the connection between arthritis and isolation.

So, in an effort to learn more about this possible connection, as well as arthritis overall contribution to global social isolation, data was collected from a European research project that consisted of 2,942 seniors living in six different European countries (United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands).From that group, this study looked specifically at 1,967 people all around the age of 73.

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The research team wanted to determine if each adult was socially isolated both at the beginning of the study as well as 12-18 months later on. To achieve this, each adult filled out questionnaires asking about how often they saw and connected with family and friends. Each participant was also asked about any volunteer activity or social groups they may be involved in.

Half of the surveyed participants were women, and nearly 30% had arthritis. Judging off of the initial questionnaire results, 20% of the participants were isolated at the beginning of the study.

Participants that werent socially isolated were generally younger, had higher incomes and more education. Also, those who were staying social were generally in better health, more attractive, experienced less daily pain, and had faster walking times.

Among the 1,585 participants who were not classified as socially isolated at the beginning of the study, 13% ended up becoming isolated by the time of the second survey some 12-18 months later. That group reported that their arthritis had worsened in between survey periods; they were in more pain, couldnt walk as easily, had developed depression, and some were experiencing problems thinking and formulating decisions.

The studys authors believe their findings indicate that osteoarthritis increases ones risk of social isolation. Besides arthritis, problems with thinking and decisions, and slower walking times, were also listed as possible developments likely to result in social isolation.

Researchers recommend that older adults suffering from arthritis should do the best they can to stay moving and get involved in social activities. Specifically, they suggest looking into local senior centers that usually feature activities specially designed for people dealing with mobility issues.

The study is published in theJournal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Pain & Loneliness: Osteoarthritis Linked To Social Isolation Among Seniors - Study Finds

2019 World Arthritis Day: Read here to know the link between rheumatoid arthritis and depression

A person with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may not seem to fit the usual profile of an "arthritis" patient since this word is usually associated with older people. RA, however, is a type of arthritis that affects people in the prime of their life, and women are more likely to be affected than men. It is an autoimmune disease which occurs when a person's immune system attacks his or her own body, for reasons that are not well understood. Research indicates that a person with RA is 2 to 4 times more likely to be depressed*, which can further worsen RA and compromise its treatment. Patients with RA produce excessive amounts of certain chemicals in the body called "proinflammatory cytokines". These chemicals can also contribute to depression. Many of the physical symptoms of RA can be seen or measured, and so they receive prompt treatment. But the mental impact of RA is unseen and can often be missed during diagnosis. This makes it critical for a doctor to recognize if a patient with RA is also depressed, and then address both conditions.

A patient with RA has pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, especially those in the fingers and wrists, which can over time lead to loss of function and disability. Understandably, many patients find it difficult to come to terms with a diagnosis of RA. Simple routine activities that involve movement of the hands and fingers, such as typing and cooking, or even holding or grasping of lightweight objects can become difficult tasks. All of this can cause a person to become depressed.

Rheumatoid arthritis cause pain and stiffness in jointsPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Depression can worsen the pain and other symptoms seen in RA

Depression can worsen the pain and other symptoms seen in RA. Moreover, a person with RA is often at a higher risk of co-morbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease and heart attacks, and being depressed can further increase this risk.

If left untreated, depression may cause a person to feel less productive at the workplace and even lose his/her job. It can strain family and social relationships and drive a wedge in a marriage because of its impact on sexual intimacy. Undoubtedly, this can negatively affect a patient's mental health, further increasing depression.

Also read:See How These Top 5 Foods Can Ease Your Arthritis Pain Quickly And Effectively

Together, rheumatoid arthritis and depression form a vicious cycle. RA can lead to depression, and depression in turn can increase the severity of RA and reduce treatment effectiveness.

Addressing depression in RA patients can help in treating RA effectivelyPhoto Credit: iStock

However, a patient's rheumatologist and a psychiatrist can together suggest the best course of treatment to address both these conditions. In addition to medication, a patient can also benefit from regular exercise, learning techniques to manage stress better and help from support groups to cope with the emotional and physical burden of both conditions. When both depression and RA are addressed, patients often respond better to treatment and go on to enjoy a better quality of life.

Also read:These Are The Foods You Should Include In Your Diet If You Have Arthritis

*Margaretten M, Julian L, Katz P, Yelin E. Depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: description, causes and mechanisms. Int J Clin Rheumtol. 2011;6(6):617-623. doi:10.2217/IJR.11.6

(Dr Rohini Samant - HOD Rheumatology at Hinduja Hospital - Mumbai)

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World Arthritis Day 2019: Know The Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis And Depression - NDTV News