Guest guest Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Indianapolis, IN, October 30, 2007 – Each year more than 40,000 people die of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a devastating lung disease – leading to the same number of deaths as breast cancer. Currently, there is no effective treatment for the disease. However, ImmuneWorks, an Indianapolis-based biotechnology company committed to developing effective treatments for serious lung diseases, is developing a safe and effective treatment for IPF patients. The scientific foundation of the company is the groundbreaking research by ImmuneWorks that identified the specific auto-antigen, or disease trigger, that causes IPF. That research has led to development of immune tolerance therapies which can arrest the progression of IPF. ImmuneWorks is also working on blood tests that can diagnose the disease as well as monitor a patient’s progress during treatment.ImmuneWorks recently received a $300,000 investment from BioCrossroads’ Indiana Seed Fund I, Indiana’s only targeted life sciences seed stage investment fund. This funding will be used to support ImmuneWorks manufacturing process development research that will help in its submission of its Investigational New Drug (IND) Exemption to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008. FDA regulations require an IND submission before ImmuneWorks can begin its human clinical trials.”We are pleased that BioCrossroads has confidence in our team and our science and have chosen to invest in ImmuneWorks,” said Wade Lange, ImmuneWorks president and CEO. “BioCrossroads’ investment process is very rigorous and their team has great depth in the biotech field that enables them to evaluate opportunities. The ImmuneWorks team is determined to bring an effective treatment for IPF patients to market and this investment will enable us to take great progress toward that goal.”“We continue to see unique discoveries coming out of research being done in Indiana,” said . “ImmuneWorks has put together an impressive team of researchers and executives who are making great strides in the treatment and therapy of lung disease. There is a lot of promise in this unique discovery, with real potential to treat additional auto-immune disease patients as well.”The ImmuneWorks immune tolerance therapy is based on knowledge of the specific auto-antigen responsible for IFP. An auto-antigen is a protein naturally occurring in the body; however, in autoimmune diseases, the body’s defense mechanism incorrectly identifies the auto-antigen as foreign. The body’s immune system then stimulates defense against it, which causes the disease. The goal of immune tolerance treatment, such as ImmuneWorks’ approach, is to train the human defense system that the auto-antigen isn’t foreign, so that the body doesn’t respond against it.The company is preparing for clinical trials, expected to begin in 2008, to study the oral administration of the identified auto-antigen. ImmuneWorks is identifying other autoimmune diseases that could be treated with its product, as well as additional autoimmune diseases for which immune tolerance could be successfully deployed. Additionally, the company is conducting research on alternative ways to deliver drugs (e.g., intranasal, injection) to optimize the tolerance of auto-antigen administration.About ImmuneWorksImmuneWorks (www.immuneworks.com) is a biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics and diagnostic tests for patients with autoimmune conditions. Founded in 2006 by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers on the principle of oral tolerance, ImmuneWorks brings an understanding of immunology and autoimmune diseases to create therapeutics that will make a difference in the lives of patients.The company is initially developing treatments for serious pulmonary diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and prevention of lung transplant rejection. ImmuneWorks’ therapies are coupled with proprietary diagnostic tests designed to measure biomarkers that will identify patients who are likely to respond to oral tolerance treatment.About BioCrossroadsBioCrossroads (www.biocrossroads.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads provides money and support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences businesses, expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana's life science institutions, expands science education and markets Indiana's life sciences industry. About the Indiana Seed Fund IThe $6 million, return-driven Indiana Seed Fund was launched in June 2005 and is managed by BioCrossroads with funding coming from BioCrossroads, the Indiana Finance Authority and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The Seed Fund provides working capital in the range of $50,000-$500,000 to promising Indiana life sciences companies at the preliminary stages of operation.Source: BioCrossroads P PM (Polymositis) 12/98, UIP 8/00, o2 24/7 8/04, PH 3/06, ILL yo 59 __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Wow , what news. Thanks for sharing. Here's how dumb I am...I didn't know IPF is an auto-immune disease. When I was told the cause is not known I wasn't told it is an auto-immune disease. This info. leaves some hope that perhaps there is treatment somewhere up ahead. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Wow , what news. Thanks for sharing. Here's how dumb I am...I didn't know IPF is an auto-immune disease. When I was told the cause is not known I wasn't told it is an auto-immune disease. This info. leaves some hope that perhaps there is treatment somewhere up ahead. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Wow , what news. Thanks for sharing. Here's how dumb I am...I didn't know IPF is an auto-immune disease. When I was told the cause is not known I wasn't told it is an auto-immune disease. This info. leaves some hope that perhaps there is treatment somewhere up ahead. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Sandi...well at least knowing it's an a-i disease tells me there are things that can be done to boost the a-i system. Perhaps not IPF...quite yet...but other things. Thanks. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Thanks . Added to the links on home page. I love ths group.... Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07 __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Thanks . Added to the links on home page. I love ths group.... Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07 __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Leanne! I missed you being listed for transplant now. Oh, I do send prayers your way. I missed a lot being gone so long... Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Kay...yes, we continue to learn. Maybe we can claim the damp Oregon air??? I'm lovin' the cooler weather. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Kay...yes, we continue to learn. Maybe we can claim the damp Oregon air??? I'm lovin' the cooler weather. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Sandie and Sher, There are different schools of thought on whether IPF is autoimmune or not. Just one more thing that the pulmonary medical world does not agree on. It would be so helpful if (as Peggy says) they would read the same book. Hugs, Joyce D.PULMONARY FIBROSIS/LUPUS 1997 BRONCHIECTASIS 2004 INDIANA 2 COR. 12:10 ....when I am weak, then I am strong.> >> > Wow , what news. Thanks for sharing.> > Here's how dumb I am...I didn't know IPF is an auto-immune disease. > When I was told the cause is not known I wasn't told it is an auto-> immune disease. > > This info. leaves some hope that perhaps there is treatment somewhere > up ahead.> > Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.> > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Leanne, And, We Love You! We are heading towards 25,000 posts! This is Your Work! Hugs, Joyce D.PULMONARY FIBROSIS/LUPUS 1997 BRONCHIECTASIS 2004 INDIANA 2 COR. 12:10 ....when I am weak, then I am strong. >> Thanks . Added to the links on home page.> > I love ths group....> > Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois> listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07> > > > __________________________________________________> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Hi Joyce! I'm going to question my pulmonologist when I see him at the end of this month. A week or so and I'll have the routine of breathing tests/scans. I surely hope you are doing ok. Of course I read all your posts and try to keep up now that I'm back. Thanks and God bless. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Don't tell .. Love and Prayers, Peggy ipf 6/04 Florida " Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up. " Leanne, And, We Love You! We are heading towards 25,000 posts! This is Your Work! Hugs, Joyce D. PULMONARY FIBROSIS/LUPUS 1997 BRONCHIECTASIS 2004 INDIANA 2 COR. 12:10 ....when I am weak, then I am strong. > > Thanks . Added to the links on home page. > > I love ths group.... > > Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois > listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07 > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 That's not dumb....I think they'll decide in the end that there are a number of reasons for IPF - some autoimmune, some environmental and some genetic (maybe immune, maybe not). And there will probably be different therapies that work better for some than others depending on the "cause." There are probably multiple disease "pathways" involved. Just my two cents...grin! >> Wow , what news. Thanks for sharing.> Here's how dumb I am...I didn't know IPF is an auto-immune disease. When I was told the cause is not known I wasn't told it is an auto-immune disease. > This info. leaves some hope that perhaps there is treatment somewhere up ahead.> Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Thats the way it is, we know so little when all is said and done. I know nothing about yogurt and heritage. However, I did recently read an article in WebMD magazine expressing some concern about microbiotics including yogurt to excess for persons with autoimmune issues. Now, it was hardly definitive in any way, but best I could gather was that while there is good bacteria that is generally beneficial to us, such as active cultures in yogurt, that some may reach the point at which even good bacteria become bad for them. Well, I'd just learned to tolerate yogurt so I'm continuing with it, but seems like for every study of anything there is one somewhere contradicting it. > > > > > > > > Wow , what news. Thanks for sharing. > > > > Here's how dumb I am...I didn't know IPF is an auto-immune > disease. > > > When I was told the cause is not known I wasn't told it is an > auto- > > > immune disease. > > > > This info. leaves some hope that perhaps there is treatment > > somewhere > > > up ahead. > > > > Sher; ipf 3-06; OR. > > > > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 I agree. I like yogurt but I think too much of a good thing can be bad as well. And with all the contradiction going on it's hard to know who or what to believe. Its like coffee its bad, then its good then its bad, and who knows anymore! Sandie Why dont you life milk??? > > > > > > > > > > Wow , what news. Thanks for sharing. > > > > > Here's how dumb I am...I didn't know IPF is an auto-immune > > disease. > > > > When I was told the cause is not known I wasn't told it is an > > auto- > > > > immune disease. > > > > > This info. leaves some hope that perhaps there is treatment > > > somewhere > > > > up ahead. > > > > > Sher; ipf 3-06; OR. > > > > > Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Dear Joyce, Couldn't do it w/o y'all. LeanneJoyce wrote: Leanne, And, We Love You! We are heading towards 25,000 posts! This is Your Work! Hugs, Joyce D.PULMONARY FIBROSIS/LUPUS 1997 BRONCHIECTASIS 2004 INDIANA 2 COR. 12:10 ....when I am weak, then I am strong. >> Thanks . Added to the links on home page.> > I love ths group....> > Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois> listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07> > > > __________________________________________________> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Dear Joyce, Couldn't do it w/o y'all. LeanneJoyce wrote: Leanne, And, We Love You! We are heading towards 25,000 posts! This is Your Work! Hugs, Joyce D.PULMONARY FIBROSIS/LUPUS 1997 BRONCHIECTASIS 2004 INDIANA 2 COR. 12:10 ....when I am weak, then I am strong. >> Thanks . Added to the links on home page.> > I love ths group....> > Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois> listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07> > > > __________________________________________________> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Leanne, I sent My Dr. one of our pictures this AM and this was her reply. She is so special. Peggy, Thank you for sending me your photograph. You look wonderful as do all the others. I am glad that you are holding your own. Remember we are here for you and I personally admire you and your indomitable spirit. Regards, Veena Love and Prayers, Peggy ipf 6/04 Florida " Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up. " Dear Joyce, Couldn't do it w/o y'all. Leanne Joyce wrote: Leanne, And, We Love You! We are heading towards 25,000 posts! This is Your Work! Hugs, Joyce D. PULMONARY FIBROSIS/LUPUS 1997 BRONCHIECTASIS 2004 INDIANA 2 COR. 12:10 ....when I am weak, then I am strong. > > Thanks . Added to the links on home page. > > I love ths group.... > > Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois > listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07 > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Leanne, I sent My Dr. one of our pictures this AM and this was her reply. She is so special. Peggy, Thank you for sending me your photograph. You look wonderful as do all the others. I am glad that you are holding your own. Remember we are here for you and I personally admire you and your indomitable spirit. Regards, Veena Love and Prayers, Peggy ipf 6/04 Florida " Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up. " Dear Joyce, Couldn't do it w/o y'all. Leanne Joyce wrote: Leanne, And, We Love You! We are heading towards 25,000 posts! This is Your Work! Hugs, Joyce D. PULMONARY FIBROSIS/LUPUS 1997 BRONCHIECTASIS 2004 INDIANA 2 COR. 12:10 ....when I am weak, then I am strong. > > Thanks . Added to the links on home page. > > I love ths group.... > > Leanne uip 1/03 Illinois > listed for left lung transplant 10/12/07 > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 ...yes, it is my understanding that IPF can be genetic. Perhaps that is the "cause" of mine. There are two other possibilities. One, I lived on an Army Base w/husband; Camp Hanford, in Wash. state. Plutonium was manf. there at that time. My thyroid was affected. Second; I used to do ceramics and breathing in the dust from cleaning greenware is certainly a possibility. Me thinks I need to work harder on "acceptance".I guess the "how" is not as important as the "now". Thanks. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Sher......"now instead of how"......I like that. When I was diagnosed I was coming off chemo and radiation (a possible cause) for lung cancer. I smoked for 28 years (another possible cause). I worked in a steel mill for 12 years in the 70s (another possible cause). I owned an African Grey parrot for 10 years (another posible cause), just got rid of him 7 months ago and it HAS made a difference. So......I've felt all along that it matters not where I got it. Thanx for making that point. jim IPF 05 alaska Sher Bauman wrote: ...yes, it is my understanding that IPF can be genetic. Perhaps that is the "cause" of mine. There are two other possibilities. One, I lived on an Army Base w/husband; Camp Hanford, in Wash. state. Plutonium was manf. there at that time. My thyroid was affected. Second; I used to do ceramics and breathing in the dust from cleaning greenware is certainly a possibility. Me thinks I need to work harder on "acceptance".I guess the "how" is not as important as the "now". Thanks. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Sher......"now instead of how"......I like that. When I was diagnosed I was coming off chemo and radiation (a possible cause) for lung cancer. I smoked for 28 years (another possible cause). I worked in a steel mill for 12 years in the 70s (another possible cause). I owned an African Grey parrot for 10 years (another posible cause), just got rid of him 7 months ago and it HAS made a difference. So......I've felt all along that it matters not where I got it. Thanx for making that point. jim IPF 05 alaska Sher Bauman wrote: ...yes, it is my understanding that IPF can be genetic. Perhaps that is the "cause" of mine. There are two other possibilities. One, I lived on an Army Base w/husband; Camp Hanford, in Wash. state. Plutonium was manf. there at that time. My thyroid was affected. Second; I used to do ceramics and breathing in the dust from cleaning greenware is certainly a possibility. Me thinks I need to work harder on "acceptance".I guess the "how" is not as important as the "now". Thanks. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Jim...curiosity has the best of me. I think it was you who inquired about my schooling in southern Oregon....what prompted the question? Surprising, isn't it, how little one-liners touch someone else. Sher; ipf 3-06; OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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