FDA on Thursday is expected to issue an advisory that urges physicians to conduct genetic testing before prescribing GlaxoSmithKline’s antiretroviral drug abacavir to reduce allergic reactions in people taking the drug, the New York Times reports. The recommendation to conduct genetic screenings will be included in a black box warning on the drug’s label.
HIV-positive people [...]

When it comes to allergies, both the problem and the solution are found within us. Our immune systems respond to foreign substances with an arsenal of cells. Some are programmed to “remember” invaders they’ve encountered in the past. Normally, anything previously identified as harmless is allowed to pass. Sometimes, however, the immune response goes awry, [...]

Asthma UK Scotland is looking for 15-year-olds across Scotland with asthma to act as ambassadors for the charity and encourage other youngsters to lead a full and active lifestyle. One 15-year-old from each of Scotland’s 14 health board areas will be chosen to co-ordinate innovative activities - in their [...]

Two complementary guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis are published in the August issue of the Allergy journal. These guidelines are the result of a close cooperation between scientists, primary care professionals, and patients’ organisations. GA²LEN, Global Allergy and Asthma European Network contributed to the guidelines representing European research in the field.

Cytos Biotechnology Ltd (SWX:CYTN) announced results from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase II studies with CYT003-QbG10 monotherapy for the treatment of house dust mite and cat allergy, and with CYT005-AllQbG10 combination therapy for the treatment of house dust [...]

Recent scientific findings explain why patients with a rare immunodeficiency disorder are unusually susceptible to certain common infections. By revealing the exact molecular mechanisms involved, they also give us clues as to why some ‘healthy’ people are more prone to these infections than others, and suggest potential treatments.

The study, published online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, calls for trials of aggressive therapies against childhood eczema in attempt to reduce the incidence of asthma in later life. The study, conducted by the University of Melbourne, Monash University and Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania, has followed more than [...]

Greer, a leading developer and provider of allergy immunotherapy products and services, has completed enrollment for its pivotal Phase III clinical trial designed to study the efficacy of sublingual-oral immunotherapy (SLIT) as a treatment for adults with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by short ragweed pollen. It is estimated that 30 million Americans are allergic to short [...]

Scientists in Sydney have identified a process, a synergistic encounter between two molecules, that may account for the extreme allergic reactions some people experience. By silencing at least one of these molecules, it may be possible to treat allergies. The molecules, IL-4 and IL-21, are cytokines or ‘chemical messengers’ produced by [...]