| |
|
| | |
 |
|
| Autoimmune Disorders | |
| Syntonix Autoimmune Disease Programs Syntonix is collaborating with Dyax Corp (NASDAQ: DYAX) to discover and develop novel therapeutic antibodies to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. During the discovery phase of the collaboration, Syntonix will provide proprietary assays and reagents as well as certain preclinical development work, and Dyax will utilize its proprietary antibody libraries to screen for clinical candidates. Upon successful completion of discovery work, the two companies will have the option to advance the antibody lead(s) into clinical development under the terms of a global co-development and co-commercialization agreement. About Autoimmune Disease Approximately 50 million Americans suffer from one or more autoimmune disorders, with women more likely to be affected than men. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. These disorders stem from a breakdown in the system to control or suppress lymphocytes which are capable of reacting against the body’s own tissues or “self”. This occurs when there is some interruption of the usual control process, allowing some classes of lymphocytes to avoid suppression or when there is an alteration to some body tissue and it is no longer recognized as self. Autoimmune disorders range in prevalence from diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis which affects 2.1 million Americans to multiple sclerosis, which affects 400,000 Americans to orphan diseases such as myasthenia gravis (60,000 Americans) or idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (200,000 Americans). When autoimmune disease attacks a particular organ it is sometimes possible to replace critical functions of that organ by drug treatment (e.g. thyroid medications, adrenalin, insulin). In other cases and when the tissues attacked are not specific to a particular organ, drugs may be taken to diminish the activity of the immune system. Treatments include corticosteroids, more powerful immunosuppressants, intravenous immunoglobulin, and other drugs which block more specific features of the immune system. The latter have the prospect of greater efficacy, reduced side effects, or both. More background information on autoimmune disorders can be found at |
|
 |
|
 Home | About Syntonix | Science & Technology | News | Careers | Contact Us | Site Map Terms & Conditions of Use | Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | Privacy Policy © Biogen Idec - Biogen Idec is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. |
