Inflammation is a process caused by an immunological reaction in which an array of molecules acts to remove antigens ( bacteria, viruses, fungus, chemicals etc. ) through various immune mechanisms. The immune response, which is inappropriate ( hypersensitivity ) leads to inflammatory responses that may lead to excessive tissue damage ( immuno-inflammatory disorders ).
Chronic immuno-inflammatory disorders involving various organs have an impact on the morbidity and quality of life of millions of human’s world wide. Furthermore, the immuno-inflammatory diseases represent a big challenge for the healthcare system as well as for the pharmaceutical industry due to the fact that the existing therapies for the immuno-inflammatory diseases have no optimal risk/benefit ratio. Inflammatory diseases are the number one cause of healthcare issues worldwide.
Inflammatory disorders cover a broad spectrum of conditions. Among those are for instance
| - | Psoriasis |
| - | Dermatitis |
| - | Arthritis (Rheumatoid arthritis) |
| - | Inflammatory CNS diseases |
| - | Multiple Sclerosis |
| - | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| - | Chronic lung inflammatory conditions |
| - | Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease) |
| - | Cardiovascular disease |
The highlighted are the primary targets for Avexxin’s novel therapies.
Inflammation is the unifying factor among all the diseases listed above. Current drug therapy for serious cases involves the use of drugs which suppress the immune system with the risk of infection and other unwanted adverse effects.
Many of the current therapies today treat only the symptoms of the disease, and not the underlying cause of inflammation.
Avexxin is developing a range of substances targeting a novel and more specific intervention point in the biological process leading to inflammation than the compounds currently available for therapies of immuno-inflammatory conditions. Due to the properties of the compounds it is expected that the risk/benefit profile of the therapy will be improved compared to already available treatment.
To know more about the different inflammatory diseases, please use the hyperlinks below.
National Psoriasis Foundation www.psoriasis.org
Psoriasis Support Forum www.psoriasiscures.com
The National Library of Medicine's consumer health site www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/psoriasis.html
Norsk Psoriasisforbund www.psoriasis.no
Danmarks Psoriasis Forening www.psoriasis.dk
The National Library of Medicine's consumer health site www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dermatitis.html
ALtruis Biomedical Network www.i-dermatitis.com
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases www.niams.nih. /hi/topics/dermatitis
Arthritis Foundation www.arthritis.org
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases www.niams.nih.gov
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke www.ninds.nih.gov
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf www.neurologie.uni-duesseldorf.de/~witte/disease.html
American Lung Association www.lungusa.org
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America www.ccfa.org
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm
American Heart Association www.americanheart.org