Argos Therapeutics Receives $1.0 Million Grant for Lupus Research; ALR Funding to Support Antibody Research.DURHAM, N.C. -- The Alliance for Lupus Research About the Alliance for Lupus Research • founded in 1999 by Robert Wood Johnson IV, a member of the founding family of Johnson & Johnson, and owner of the NY Jets (ALR ALR Administrative License Revocation ALR Agricultural Land Reserve (Canada) ALR Automatic Locking Retractor (seat belts) ALR Australian Law Reports (University of Tasmania Library) ) has awarded a $1 million grant to Argos Therapeutics for development of a therapeutic antibody product for systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE SLE systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE abbr. systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) ) based on research conducted at Baylor Institute for Immunology Research. A pioneer in immunotherapy, Argos uses its expertise in dendritic cell dendritic cell n. 1. A cell that has branching processes. 2. Any of the cells in the neural crest of the embryonic ectoderm having extensive processes and developing early as producers of melanin. biology to develop therapeutic vaccines in the areas of cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders Autoimmune Disorders Definition Autoimmune disorders are conditions in which a person's immune system attacks the body's own cells, causing tissue destruction. and transplantation. "Receiving this grant is a major accomplishment and validation of previous ALR-funded studies co-funded by Argos and led by Dr. Jacques Banchereau, who is the director of the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research," said Clint Dederick, Jr., chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Argos Therapeutics. "We greatly appreciate ALR's financial support as it will help provide the resources to take our work to the next level - focusing on humanization Humanization Fusing the constant and variable framework region of one or more human immunoglobulins with the binding region of an animal immunoglobulin, done to reduce human reaction against the fusion antibody. Mentioned in: Alemtuzumab of the antibody and manufacture of clinical-grade material to be used in a clinical trial planned for next year." The Alliance for Lupus Research is a leading source of private funding for lupus research and one hundred percent of funds raised are directed to peer-reviewed research and scientific programs. Since its inception in 1999, ALR has committed more than $30 million to lupus research, and has made remarkable gains toward unlocking the mysteries of this disease. Commonly called lupus, SLE is an autoimmune disease autoimmune disease, any of a number of abnormal conditions caused when the body produces antibodies to its own substances. In rheumatoid arthritis, a group of antibody molecules called collectively RF, or rheumatoid factor, is complexed to the individual's own gamma in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissue and organs, including joints, kidneys, heart, lungs and brain. Lupus, particularly in children, can be an aggressive disease and treatment options with fewer side effects are urgently needed. According to Charles Nicolette, Ph.D., Principal Investigator for the project and Vice President of Research and Development for Argos, previous ALR-funded studies co-funded by Argos and led by Dr. Banchereau, provide strong evidence that a protein called interferon-alpha contributes to immune system abnormalities in adults and children with lupus. To translate this discovery into a useful product, antibodies have been generated in mice that bind to and neutralize the biologic activity of human interferon-alpha found in the blood of lupus patients. This mouse antibody will be `humanized' for clinical testing in lupus patients. "Lupus represents an unmet medical need as no new therapies for SLE have been approved by the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. in over 40 years. Patients are treated with a variety of drugs that provide only partial benefits and can have damaging side effects that limit their use, including bone thinning, weight Page Two - ALR Grants $1.0 Million for Argos Lupus Research gain, acne, anemia, sterility, rashes diarrhea, hair loss and nausea," said Nicolette. "To the best of our knowledge, the antibody product we are developing for clinical testing is the only interferon-alpha neutralizing antibody shown to block the biologic activity in the blood of lupus patients." According to ALR, as many as one million or more persons suffer from lupus. Currently, treatment options for SLE patients include corticosteroids Corticosteroids Definition Corticosteroids are group of natural and synthetic analogues of the hormones secreted by the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, more commonly referred to as the pituitary gland. , nonsteroidal non·ste·roi·dal or non·ster·oid adj. Not being or containing a steroid. n. A drug or other substance not containing a steroid. immune suppressants, antimalarials, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Definition Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are medicines that relieve pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation. . "Our goal is to determine if blocking interferon-alpha activity in lupus patients will provide a more specific and effective therapy in both young people and adults," said Dr. Banchereau. "Other experimental treatments for lupus that are currently being developed by others are designed to treat various symptoms/defects observed in lupus patients. Our research suggests that the root cause of the disease, which results in the multitude of diverse clinical symptoms that characterize SLE, is interferon-alpha. We believe that attacking the disease at its source will result in a more effective and targeted treatment option." Baylor Institute for Immunology Research Baylor Institute for Immunology Research is a scientific and laboratory structure devoted to design and testing of novel vaccine strategies. It is a component of Baylor Research Institute, an affiliate of Baylor Health Care System. For more information visit www.baylorhealth.com Argos Therapeutics Argos Therapeutics, Inc., formerly Merix Bioscience, is dedicated to becoming a market leader in the field of immunotherapy. By using proprietary technology and proven therapeutic methods and expertise in dendritic cell biology, Argos is developing the next generation of therapies in the areas of oncology, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders and transplantation. Our focus is bringing to market therapeutic options that not only offer new promise for treatment of intractable diseases, but also an improved safety profile and better patient quality of life during treatment. Please visit us at www.argostherapeutics.com |
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