Treating autoimmune disease

Diamino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles of type (361) have been patented for use in the treatment of hypertension <82EUP44266), while 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles such as (362) are claimed to be useful for treating autoimmune diseases and in the prevention of graft rejection. Compounds of type (362) also have antirheumatic properties and are, in particular, useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and immune diseases such as systemic lupus <91EUP455356). 

Another rather straightforward case, that of the cost of an already-developed drug, raises much the same issue. Suppose, for example, that one evaluates an already-developed and patented drug for treating autoimmune disease for a new use. The relevant price measure from a societal perspective is much below AWP. If programs for additional use are approved based on this measure, but firms continue to be paid AWP, firm profits will... 

Soft tissue rheumatism can be one of the many manifestations of an underlying specific autoimmune disease. Secondary fibromyalgia and enthesitis are the consequences of long-term inadequately treated autoimmune diseases. When no specific underlying causes can be detected, the disorder is called nonspecific soft tissue rheumatism. The major manifestations of soft tissue rheumatism are non-specific... 

Initially, the immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclophosphamide (32), azathioprine, and methotrexate, were developed to inhibit malignant cell proliferation. The immunosuppressant activity was discovered later and these agents were then applied to treat autoimmune diseases, where patients did not respond to high doses of steroids (51). The potential side effects associated with these agents have encouraged the search for unique immunosuppressants having more acceptable safety and efficacy profiles (62). Future approaches need to incorporate early treatment with immunotherapy... 

Cyclosporine is used to a somewhat lesser extent in treating autoimmune diseases, but it may be helpful in conditions such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and glomerulonephri-tiS.i5,32,63 as discussed in Chapter 32, cyclosporine has also been used in the early stages of type 1 diabetes mellitus to help control immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells, thus decreasing the severity of this disease in some patients.9... 

Babu et al. (2003) reported that a significant reduction in concanavalin A spleen lymphocytes proliferation in pregnant rats fed a 40% flaxseed diet. Spleen lymphocytes proliferation was significantly lower in a 90-day-old offspring on the 40% flaxseed diet and exposed to phytohemagglutinin. In both cases, interleukin-2 formation was not affected by flaxseed intake. The levels of LA and AA in serum and tissues combined with relatively constant interleukin-2 concentrations lead to the conclusion that flaxseed could be used in treating autoimmune diseases (Babu et al., 2003). 

Alderuccio, R, Siatskas, C., Chan, J., Field, J., Murphy, K., Nasa, Z. and Toh, B. H. (2006). Haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy to treat autoimmune disease. Curr. Stem Cell Res. Ther. 1 279-287. 

Another application of antibodies is to treat autoimmune diseases, which occur due to a deficiency of the immune system that recognizes an endogenous molecule as a foreign element. The most common immu-notherapeutic approach in these cases is that the antibody is directed against the antigen on the surface of the lymphocytes responsible for the immune response. 

Composition for treating autoimmune disease comprising heme oxygenase-1 inducer or CO donor capable of inhibiting proliferation of CD4+ T-cell causing autoimmune disease [248]... 

The primary target in treating autoimmune disease, especially autoimmune hepatitis, is to restore the immune balance. When correctly administered, immunosuppression can effect the remission of autoimmune hepatitis and improve the survival rate — and even normalize... 

Immunosuppressants are drugs capable of suppressing immune responses. They are used to treat autoimmune disease, aUergy, multiple myeloma, and chronic nephritis, and in organ transplantation. For example, immunosuppressants that are used to provide maintenance immunosuppression in solid organ and bone marrow transplant patients include cyclosporine, everoHmus (Ever), mycophe-nolic acid (MPA), Siro, and Tac (Figure 33-13). 

Corticosteroids are commonly used to reduce inflammation (innate immunity), treat autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and as a prophylactic measure to prevent transplant rejection. The adrenocorticosteroid prednisone is often coadministered with other immunosuppressives such as cyclosporine and azathioprine [36]. 

Like cetuximab, infliximab is a monse-hnman chimeric IgGlK mAb. With specificity for TNF, the antibody is used to treat autoimmune diseases snch as Crohn s disease and rheumatoid arthritis (Table 11.1) and there are a few reports of it indneing rapid recovery of lesions in several cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis (Sect. 3.63.1). A variety of reactions, both systemic and cutaneons, have been reported following administration of infliximab. These inclnde macnlopapular rashes, nrticaria, psoriasis, flare-np of atopic dermatitis. 

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