March 26 (Reuters) - Celgene Corp :
* Acceleron receives two FDA orphan designations for ace-536
* Acceleron pharma-ace-536 granted rare disease designation for treatment of
beta-thalassemia, for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes
* Acceleron-ace-536 is investigational protein therapeutic,being developed by
acceleron as part of global collaboration with Celgene
* Source text for Eikon * Further company coverage ((Bangalore Newsroom; +1 646 223 8780))
Scientists may be close to finding a cure for sickle cell anemia, a blood disease that disproportionately affects African-Americans.
One in 500 African descendants born in the United States suffer from sickle cell; one in 12 carry the gene for it. The disease can cause symptoms as minor as fatigue, or as major as organ damage. A person suffering from sickle cell has defective hemoglobin that leads to abnormally shaped red blood cells, which get caught in the veins and cause circulation issues.
But a long-term experiment run out of the University of Michigan Medical School found that doctors might be able to treat these symptoms by using an antidepressant:
Their study, which includes more than 30 years of research, found that the antidepressant tranylcypromine, or TCP, may essentially reverse the effects of the disorder.[...]
But while U-M scientists say it’s too early to test out TCP as a treatment for sickle cell disease, they’re confident their findings hold promise.[...]
The first clinical trial on TCP and its affect on sickle cell is now being planned with researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit. Further information will be available later this year if it receives approval to go forward.
African-Americans disproportionately struggle to access the health care they need. Socioeconomic and environmental reasons — and the root cause, racism — are, of course, the reason for the disparity. Ultimately, the lack of care for back communities might funnel down to the research level. It’s suspected that less funding is awarded for research toward diseases that affect black people at a higher rate than white.
WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it approved a new drug from Celgene for patients with hard-to-treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood.
The agency approved the pill Pomalyst for cases of the disease that have spread even after treatment with two other cancer drugs.
Multiple myeloma mainly affects older adults and kills about 10,700 people annually, according to the National Cancer Institute.
FDA noted that Pomalyst is the second drug approved for multiple myeloma in the past year. The agency approved Kyprolis from Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. in July 2012.
"Treatment for multiple myeloma is tailored to meet individual patient's needs, and today's approval provides an additional treatment option for patients who have not responded to other drugs," said Dr. Richard Pazdur, FDA's office director for cancer drugs, in a statement.
Pomalyst carries a boxed warning, the most serious type, alerting patients and doctors that the drug can cause severe birth defects in pregnant women and can cause blood clots.
Shares of Celgene Corp., based in Summit, N.J., rose $2.29, or 2.4 percent, to $100.13. The stock added 17 cents to $100.30 in after-hours trading.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was hospitalized on Sunday after doctors found a blood clot.
Clinton is receiving treatment at Presbyterian Hospital in New York where doctors will monitor her for the next 48 hours, her spokesman Philippe Reines said in a statement.
The clot, resulting from a concussion she suffered earlier in December, was found during a follow-up exam on Sunday, according to the State Department.
"Her doctors will continue to assess her condition, including other issues associated with her concussion. They will determine if any further action is required," Reines said.
Clinton fainted and suffered a concussion earlier in the month when she was suffering from a stomach virus. At the time, the State Department said that she would continue her recovery at home and was being monitored by her physicians.The illness forced the secretary to cancel a trip to the Middle East and an appearance before Congress.
Clinton was due to testify before Congress on Dec. 20 about the investigation into the September attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans.
Two senior aides to Clinton testified on her behalf, but Republicans, who have been sharply critical of the administration’s handling of security for the Benghazi mission, have said they still expect Clinton testify in person.
Clinton has said she will step down from her post as the nation’s top diplomat, and President Obama has nominated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to succeed her.
— Amie Parnes contributed to this report.
— Updated at 10:03 p.m.
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