News

MeiraGTx recently acquired global rights over an investigational gene therapy called AAV-AQP1 being developed to treat the excessive dry mouth and eyes experienced by patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. The announcement comes after an exclusive licensing agreement with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), an arm of the …

High levels of five proteins in tears correlate with the severity of dry eye signs in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, implicating a role for these proteins in the disease, a study shows. The study, “Severity of clinical dry eye manifestations influences protein expression in tear fluid of patients…

With the U.S. midterm elections now less than two weeks away, patient advocacy groups are solidly focused on a range of hot-button issues, from the Orphan Drug Tax Credit and affordable health insurance to future funding for rare disease research. Yet “whether Democrats take over the House or Senate,…

Abnormal marginal zone B (MZB)-cells in the lacrimal glands of the eye appear to drive the production of autoantibodies and cause the chronic “dry eye” symptoms patients with Sjogren’s syndrome experience, a study in mice suggests. The research, “Dysregulated Marginal Zone B Cell Compartment in a Mouse…

While rare, patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome can develop central nervous system disease due to involvement of large blood vessels, rather than small or medium-sized blood vessels, according to a new case study. The study, “Cerebral Large-Vessel Vasculitis in Sjogren’s Syndrome: Utility of High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Vessel Wall Imaging,”…

Compounds known as glucosides, extracted from the root of a flower called the Chinese peony, alleviated dryness, lessened fatigue, and reduced overall disease burden in Sjögren’s syndrome patients, a randomized trial in China shows. Trial findings were published in the study, “The efficacy and safety of…

Dental implants with fitted crowns provided comfort and relieved inflammation in a Sjögren’s syndrome patient experiencing discomfort with removable dentures, according to a case report from dental surgeons in Japan. The report, “Implant-supported Prostheses in Patient with Sjögren’s Syndrome: Clinical Report with 3-year Follow-up,” was published in the…

Levels of BST-2 — a molecule involved in fighting virus infections — in salivary glands correlate with disease activity in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, and may serve as a biomarker for diagnosing the condition, a study suggests. The study, “Aberrant expression of the innate restriction factor bone…

Half a year has gone by since disgraced pharma executive Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for securities and wire fraud while heading San Diego-based Retrophin. As founder and CEO of another company (then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals), in late 2015 Shkreli bought the rights…

Sjögren’s syndrome patients are more likely to experience both aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection — two medical complications that affect the wall of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The study with that finding,…