News

Eye drops that contain a DNA-degrading enzyme are safe and potentially effective against eye damage and discomfort in people with dry eye disease, such as those who have Sjögren’s syndrome, early data from a Phase 1/2 trial show.

People with Sjögren’s syndrome have increased levels of specific signaling proteins in their tears and saliva, which are associated with more severe symptoms of eye and mouth dryness, a study finds. The study, “Elevated cytokine levels in tears and saliva of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome…

RaDaR, the catchy new name for the U.S. government-run Rare Diseases Registry Program, aims to help patient advocacy groups with limited resources build their own disease registries. The site was developed by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a division of the National Institutes of…

Levels of the siglec-5 protein in saliva are significantly higher in Sjögren’s syndrome patients than in healthy people or patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and correlate with the severity of disease symptoms, suggesting that the protein could serve as a salivary biomarker for the diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome. The study with…

With 250 rare diseases newly identified every year, scientists can barely keep up — even as the healthcare system fails millions of Americans whose rare diseases have already been diagnosed. That’s the warning from Christopher P. Austin, MD, director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Studies (NCATS) at…

Dental implants are a viable option for people with Sjogren’s syndrome, but these patients may experience a higher marginal bone loss around their implants than patients from the general population, a study shows. The study, “Dental implants in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome: a case series and a systematic review,”…

Cyporin N, a new formulation of cyclosporin A, provides faster relief of chronic dry eye triggered by primary Sjögren’s syndrome than Restasis, results from a Phase 3 trial show. The study, “Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of A Novel 0.05% Cyclosporin A Topical Nanoemulsion in…

Researchers have found that by performing an easy interview about a patient’s pain, clinicians might be able to differentiate between small nerve fiber damage of unknown cause and that caused by Sjögren’s syndrome. Their study, “The Clinical Features of Painful Small-Fiber Neuropathy Suggesting an Origin Linked…

Sjögren’s syndrome patients are three times more likely to have thyroid disease, both autoimmune and non-autoimmune, than controls, a review of eight published studies shows. The study, “Increased risk of thyroid disease in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” was published in PeerJ. Sjögren’s…

Advanz Pharma has acquired the global rights (except in Japan) to market Salagen (pilocarpine hydrochloride) tablets, an approved therapy for dry mouth in people with Sjogren’s syndrome, the company announced. Salagen, originally marketed by Eisai, is also used as a treatment for relieving dry mouth in head…