NEWS: Chemical Cousin Of Anti-anxiety Drugs Holds Promise For Psoriasis Treatment

[Guest guest]

Source:

University Of Michigan

Date:

2005-01-03

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Chemical Cousin Of Anti-anxiety Drugs Holds Promise For Psoriasis Treatment

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A new drug candidate previously shown to reduce harmful

side effects of the autoimmune disease lupus also may be useful in treating

psoriasis.

In a study published online Dec. 2 in the issue in the of the Journal of

Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, scientists from the University

of Michigan report that a compound called benzodiazepine-423 (Bz-423)‹a

chemical cousin of the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax‹suppresses cell

growth in a model of psoriasis. In that disease psoriasis, cells multiply

unchecked , so inhibiting cell growth should help control the disease.

Psoriasis is a life-long genetic condition that affects the skin and joints.

More than 4.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis or an

associated form of arthritis, and the economic burden of the disease may be

as high as $4.3 billion a year, according to the National Psoriasis

Foundation.

" Currently, the best treatments for skin lesions associated with psoriasis

are topical steroids, but the problem with those drugs is that they're not

selective for the disease-causing cells. They affect normal cells as well,

and repeated use over time can lead to tissue destruction, " said Glick,

who is the Werner E. Bachmann Collegiate Professor of Chemistry and a

professor of biological chemistry in the U-M Medical School. " There are also

protein drugs approved for use in treating psoriasis, but those drugs are

injected instead of applied topically, which makes them more costly, less

convenient and more likely to cause side effects since they are delivered

throughout the body. "

" What makes our compound particularly exciting is that it has the potential

to be applied topically, and it shows very good selectivity for models of

the disease-causing cells versus normal cells, " said Glick said. " So we

believe the problems associated with repeated topical steroid use could

possibly be alleviated with compounds like this. "

Bz-423 has not yet been tested in people; the experiments described in the

journal article were done on organ cultures of human skin designed to model

psoriasis. However, said Glick, " with the data we have now and other data

that we're in the process of collecting, we hope to start a clinical trial

in the near future. "

The compound might also be added to Retin-A (retinoic acid), which is used

to treat acne and skin damage due to sun exposure. " One of the problems with

retinoic acid is that, while it 's very effective, it can also cause effects

similar to psoriasis, so people often stop using it, " said Glick said.

" Because the biological basis of retinoic acid hyperplasia (a reddening of

the skin similar to inflammation) is very similar to that of psoriasis, the

potential exists for our compound to be mixed with Retin-A to prevent these

unwanted effects. "

In 2003, Florida-based GMP Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (a subsidiary of GMP

Companies, Inc.) entered into an exclusive patent license and a sponsored

research agreement with the University of Michigan to develop Bz-423 and

other compounds for treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and

some forms of cancer. Glick and collaborators at U-M also are using the

compounds to explore fundamental biological questions about the origins of

such diseases.

Glick's coauthors on the paper are Varani, professor of pathology;

Narasimharao Bhagavathula, a research investigator in the pathology

department; Scherzer and Fay, research associates in pathology;

Kent , professor of pathology; Sewon Kang, professor of dermatology;

and Opipari, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. Glick

and Opipari are shareholders in GMP.

The research was funded in part by the U.S. Public Health Service.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041220003823.htm

[Guest guest]

a, any hopeful news for those of us with overlap syndromes is

good news! thank you so much for your information. Knowledge is

power, and I believe that we need to know our enemy- i.e. RA, psor,

lupus, fibro...all those " monsters " that we live with every day.

jane

> Source:

>

> University Of Michigan

> Date:

>

> 2005-01-03

>

> Print this page

> Email to friend

> Chemical Cousin Of Anti-anxiety Drugs Holds Promise For Psoriasis

Treatment

>

> ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A new drug candidate previously shown to reduce

harmful

> side effects of the autoimmune disease lupus also may be useful in

treating

> psoriasis.

>

> In a study published online Dec. 2 in the issue in the of the

Journal of

> Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, scientists from the

University

> of Michigan report that a compound called benzodiazepine-423 (Bz-

423)‹a

> chemical cousin of the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and

Xanax‹suppresses cell

> growth in a model of psoriasis. In that disease psoriasis, cells

multiply

> unchecked , so inhibiting cell growth should help control the

disease.

>

> Psoriasis is a life-long genetic condition that affects the skin

and joints.

> More than 4.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis or

an

> associated form of arthritis, and the economic burden of the

disease may be

> as high as $4.3 billion a year, according to the National Psoriasis

> Foundation.

>

> " Currently, the best treatments for skin lesions associated with

psoriasis

> are topical steroids, but the problem with those drugs is that

they're not

> selective for the disease-causing cells. They affect normal cells

as well,

> and repeated use over time can lead to tissue destruction, " said

Glick,

> who is the Werner E. Bachmann Collegiate Professor of Chemistry and

a

> professor of biological chemistry in the U-M Medical School. " There

are also

> protein drugs approved for use in treating psoriasis, but those

drugs are

> injected instead of applied topically, which makes them more

costly, less

> convenient and more likely to cause side effects since they are

delivered

> throughout the body. "

>

> " What makes our compound particularly exciting is that it has the

potential

> to be applied topically, and it shows very good selectivity for

models of

> the disease-causing cells versus normal cells, " said Glick

said. " So we

> believe the problems associated with repeated topical steroid use

could

> possibly be alleviated with compounds like this. "

>

> Bz-423 has not yet been tested in people; the experiments described

in the

> journal article were done on organ cultures of human skin designed

to model

> psoriasis. However, said Glick, " with the data we have now and

other data

> that we're in the process of collecting, we hope to start a

clinical trial

> in the near future. "

>

> The compound might also be added to Retin-A (retinoic acid), which

is used

> to treat acne and skin damage due to sun exposure. " One of the

problems with

> retinoic acid is that, while it 's very effective, it can also

cause effects

> similar to psoriasis, so people often stop using it, " said Glick

said.

> " Because the biological basis of retinoic acid hyperplasia (a

reddening of

> the skin similar to inflammation) is very similar to that of

psoriasis, the

> potential exists for our compound to be mixed with Retin-A to

prevent these

> unwanted effects. "

>

> In 2003, Florida-based GMP Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (a subsidiary

of GMP

> Companies, Inc.) entered into an exclusive patent license and a

sponsored

> research agreement with the University of Michigan to develop Bz-

423 and

> other compounds for treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,

psoriasis and

> some forms of cancer. Glick and collaborators at U-M also are using

the

> compounds to explore fundamental biological questions about the

origins of

> such diseases.

>

> Glick's coauthors on the paper are Varani, professor of

pathology;

> Narasimharao Bhagavathula, a research investigator in the pathology

> department; Scherzer and Fay, research associates in

pathology;

> Kent , professor of pathology; Sewon Kang, professor of

dermatology;

> and Opipari, assistant professor of obstetrics and

gynecology. Glick

> and Opipari are shareholders in GMP.

>

> The research was funded in part by the U.S. Public Health Service.

>

> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041220003823.htm

[Guest guest]

a, any hopeful news for those of us with overlap syndromes is

good news! thank you so much for your information. Knowledge is

power, and I believe that we need to know our enemy- i.e. RA, psor,

lupus, fibro...all those " monsters " that we live with every day.

jane

> Source:

>

> University Of Michigan

> Date:

>

> 2005-01-03

>

> Print this page

> Email to friend

> Chemical Cousin Of Anti-anxiety Drugs Holds Promise For Psoriasis

Treatment

>

> ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A new drug candidate previously shown to reduce

harmful

> side effects of the autoimmune disease lupus also may be useful in

treating

> psoriasis.

>

> In a study published online Dec. 2 in the issue in the of the

Journal of

> Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, scientists from the

University

> of Michigan report that a compound called benzodiazepine-423 (Bz-

423)‹a

> chemical cousin of the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and

Xanax‹suppresses cell

> growth in a model of psoriasis. In that disease psoriasis, cells

multiply

> unchecked , so inhibiting cell growth should help control the

disease.

>

> Psoriasis is a life-long genetic condition that affects the skin

and joints.

> More than 4.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis or

an

> associated form of arthritis, and the economic burden of the

disease may be

> as high as $4.3 billion a year, according to the National Psoriasis

> Foundation.

>

> " Currently, the best treatments for skin lesions associated with

psoriasis

> are topical steroids, but the problem with those drugs is that

they're not

> selective for the disease-causing cells. They affect normal cells

as well,

> and repeated use over time can lead to tissue destruction, " said

Glick,

> who is the Werner E. Bachmann Collegiate Professor of Chemistry and

a

> professor of biological chemistry in the U-M Medical School. " There

are also

> protein drugs approved for use in treating psoriasis, but those

drugs are

> injected instead of applied topically, which makes them more

costly, less

> convenient and more likely to cause side effects since they are

delivered

> throughout the body. "

>

> " What makes our compound particularly exciting is that it has the

potential

> to be applied topically, and it shows very good selectivity for

models of

> the disease-causing cells versus normal cells, " said Glick

said. " So we

> believe the problems associated with repeated topical steroid use

could

> possibly be alleviated with compounds like this. "

>

> Bz-423 has not yet been tested in people; the experiments described

in the

> journal article were done on organ cultures of human skin designed

to model

> psoriasis. However, said Glick, " with the data we have now and

other data

> that we're in the process of collecting, we hope to start a

clinical trial

> in the near future. "

>

> The compound might also be added to Retin-A (retinoic acid), which

is used

> to treat acne and skin damage due to sun exposure. " One of the

problems with

> retinoic acid is that, while it 's very effective, it can also

cause effects

> similar to psoriasis, so people often stop using it, " said Glick

said.

> " Because the biological basis of retinoic acid hyperplasia (a

reddening of

> the skin similar to inflammation) is very similar to that of

psoriasis, the

> potential exists for our compound to be mixed with Retin-A to

prevent these

> unwanted effects. "

>

> In 2003, Florida-based GMP Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (a subsidiary

of GMP

> Companies, Inc.) entered into an exclusive patent license and a

sponsored

> research agreement with the University of Michigan to develop Bz-

423 and

> other compounds for treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,

psoriasis and

> some forms of cancer. Glick and collaborators at U-M also are using

the

> compounds to explore fundamental biological questions about the

origins of

> such diseases.

>

> Glick's coauthors on the paper are Varani, professor of

pathology;

> Narasimharao Bhagavathula, a research investigator in the pathology

> department; Scherzer and Fay, research associates in

pathology;

> Kent , professor of pathology; Sewon Kang, professor of

dermatology;

> and Opipari, assistant professor of obstetrics and

gynecology. Glick

> and Opipari are shareholders in GMP.

>

> The research was funded in part by the U.S. Public Health Service.

>

> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041220003823.htm

[Guest guest]

You're welcome Jane. I love posting hopeful news. Anything to lift

our spirits and keep the faith that something in the future will make

us all well again.

a

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 21:47:06 -0000, JANE <janeatregis@...> wrote:

>

>

> a, any hopeful news for those of us with overlap syndromes is

> good news! thank you so much for your information. Knowledge is

> power, and I believe that we need to know our enemy- i.e. RA, psor,

> lupus, fibro...all those " monsters " that we live with every day.

> jane

>

> > Source:

> >

> > University Of Michigan

> > Date:

> >

> > 2005-01-03

> >

> > Print this page

> > Email to friend

> > Chemical Cousin Of Anti-anxiety Drugs Holds Promise For Psoriasis

> Treatment

> >

> > ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A new drug candidate previously shown to reduce

> harmful

> > side effects of the autoimmune disease lupus also may be useful in

> treating

> > psoriasis.

> >

> > In a study published online Dec. 2 in the issue in the of the

> Journal of

> > Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, scientists from the

> University

> > of Michigan report that a compound called benzodiazepine-423 (Bz-

> 423)‹a

> > chemical cousin of the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and

> Xanax‹suppresses cell

> > growth in a model of psoriasis. In that disease psoriasis, cells

> multiply

> > unchecked , so inhibiting cell growth should help control the

> disease.

> >

> > Psoriasis is a life-long genetic condition that affects the skin

> and joints.

> > More than 4.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis or

> an

> > associated form of arthritis, and the economic burden of the

> disease may be

> > as high as $4.3 billion a year, according to the National Psoriasis

> > Foundation.

> >

> > " Currently, the best treatments for skin lesions associated with

> psoriasis

> > are topical steroids, but the problem with those drugs is that

> they're not

> > selective for the disease-causing cells. They affect normal cells

> as well,

> > and repeated use over time can lead to tissue destruction, " said

> Glick,

> > who is the Werner E. Bachmann Collegiate Professor of Chemistry and

> a

> > professor of biological chemistry in the U-M Medical School. " There

> are also

> > protein drugs approved for use in treating psoriasis, but those

> drugs are

> > injected instead of applied topically, which makes them more

> costly, less

> > convenient and more likely to cause side effects since they are

> delivered

> > throughout the body. "

> >

> > " What makes our compound particularly exciting is that it has the

> potential

> > to be applied topically, and it shows very good selectivity for

> models of

> > the disease-causing cells versus normal cells, " said Glick

> said. " So we

> > believe the problems associated with repeated topical steroid use

> could

> > possibly be alleviated with compounds like this. "

> >

> > Bz-423 has not yet been tested in people; the experiments described

> in the

> > journal article were done on organ cultures of human skin designed

> to model

> > psoriasis. However, said Glick, " with the data we have now and

> other data

> > that we're in the process of collecting, we hope to start a

> clinical trial

> > in the near future. "

> >

> > The compound might also be added to Retin-A (retinoic acid), which

> is used

> > to treat acne and skin damage due to sun exposure. " One of the

> problems with

> > retinoic acid is that, while it 's very effective, it can also

> cause effects

> > similar to psoriasis, so people often stop using it, " said Glick

> said.

> > " Because the biological basis of retinoic acid hyperplasia (a

> reddening of

> > the skin similar to inflammation) is very similar to that of

> psoriasis, the

> > potential exists for our compound to be mixed with Retin-A to

> prevent these

> > unwanted effects. "

> >

> > In 2003, Florida-based GMP Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (a subsidiary

> of GMP

> > Companies, Inc.) entered into an exclusive patent license and a

> sponsored

> > research agreement with the University of Michigan to develop Bz-

> 423 and

> > other compounds for treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,

> psoriasis and

> > some forms of cancer. Glick and collaborators at U-M also are using

> the

> > compounds to explore fundamental biological questions about the

> origins of

> > such diseases.

> >

> > Glick's coauthors on the paper are Varani, professor of

> pathology;

> > Narasimharao Bhagavathula, a research investigator in the pathology

> > department; Scherzer and Fay, research associates in

> pathology;

> > Kent , professor of pathology; Sewon Kang, professor of

> dermatology;

> > and Opipari, assistant professor of obstetrics and

> gynecology. Glick

> > and Opipari are shareholders in GMP.

> >

> > The research was funded in part by the U.S. Public Health Service.

> >

> > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041220003823.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

You're welcome Jane. I love posting hopeful news. Anything to lift

our spirits and keep the faith that something in the future will make

us all well again.

a

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 21:47:06 -0000, JANE <janeatregis@...> wrote:

>

>

> a, any hopeful news for those of us with overlap syndromes is

> good news! thank you so much for your information. Knowledge is

> power, and I believe that we need to know our enemy- i.e. RA, psor,

> lupus, fibro...all those " monsters " that we live with every day.

> jane

>

> > Source:

> >

> > University Of Michigan

> > Date:

> >

> > 2005-01-03

> >

> > Print this page

> > Email to friend

> > Chemical Cousin Of Anti-anxiety Drugs Holds Promise For Psoriasis

> Treatment

> >

> > ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A new drug candidate previously shown to reduce

> harmful

> > side effects of the autoimmune disease lupus also may be useful in

> treating

> > psoriasis.

> >

> > In a study published online Dec. 2 in the issue in the of the

> Journal of

> > Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, scientists from the

> University

> > of Michigan report that a compound called benzodiazepine-423 (Bz-

> 423)‹a

> > chemical cousin of the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and

> Xanax‹suppresses cell

> > growth in a model of psoriasis. In that disease psoriasis, cells

> multiply

> > unchecked , so inhibiting cell growth should help control the

> disease.

> >

> > Psoriasis is a life-long genetic condition that affects the skin

> and joints.

> > More than 4.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis or

> an

> > associated form of arthritis, and the economic burden of the

> disease may be

> > as high as $4.3 billion a year, according to the National Psoriasis

> > Foundation.

> >

> > " Currently, the best treatments for skin lesions associated with

> psoriasis

> > are topical steroids, but the problem with those drugs is that

> they're not

> > selective for the disease-causing cells. They affect normal cells

> as well,

> > and repeated use over time can lead to tissue destruction, " said

> Glick,

> > who is the Werner E. Bachmann Collegiate Professor of Chemistry and

> a

> > professor of biological chemistry in the U-M Medical School. " There

> are also

> > protein drugs approved for use in treating psoriasis, but those

> drugs are

> > injected instead of applied topically, which makes them more

> costly, less

> > convenient and more likely to cause side effects since they are

> delivered

> > throughout the body. "

> >

> > " What makes our compound particularly exciting is that it has the

> potential

> > to be applied topically, and it shows very good selectivity for

> models of

> > the disease-causing cells versus normal cells, " said Glick

> said. " So we

> > believe the problems associated with repeated topical steroid use

> could

> > possibly be alleviated with compounds like this. "

> >

> > Bz-423 has not yet been tested in people; the experiments described

> in the

> > journal article were done on organ cultures of human skin designed

> to model

> > psoriasis. However, said Glick, " with the data we have now and

> other data

> > that we're in the process of collecting, we hope to start a

> clinical trial

> > in the near future. "

> >

> > The compound might also be added to Retin-A (retinoic acid), which

> is used

> > to treat acne and skin damage due to sun exposure. " One of the

> problems with

> > retinoic acid is that, while it 's very effective, it can also

> cause effects

> > similar to psoriasis, so people often stop using it, " said Glick

> said.

> > " Because the biological basis of retinoic acid hyperplasia (a

> reddening of

> > the skin similar to inflammation) is very similar to that of

> psoriasis, the

> > potential exists for our compound to be mixed with Retin-A to

> prevent these

> > unwanted effects. "

> >

> > In 2003, Florida-based GMP Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (a subsidiary

> of GMP

> > Companies, Inc.) entered into an exclusive patent license and a

> sponsored

> > research agreement with the University of Michigan to develop Bz-

> 423 and

> > other compounds for treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,

> psoriasis and

> > some forms of cancer. Glick and collaborators at U-M also are using

> the

> > compounds to explore fundamental biological questions about the

> origins of

> > such diseases.

> >

> > Glick's coauthors on the paper are Varani, professor of

> pathology;

> > Narasimharao Bhagavathula, a research investigator in the pathology

> > department; Scherzer and Fay, research associates in

> pathology;

> > Kent , professor of pathology; Sewon Kang, professor of

> dermatology;

> > and Opipari, assistant professor of obstetrics and

> gynecology. Glick

> > and Opipari are shareholders in GMP.

> >

> > The research was funded in part by the U.S. Public Health Service.

> >

> > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041220003823.htm

>

>