FDA approves Humira for AS

The FDA has approved Humira (adalimumab) for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, its manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories, reported today. See previous entries: Humira approved for AS in Europe; Humira (adalimumab) and AS: clinical trials.

Update, Aug. 4: Lots of coverage on the financial nets, some on the wire services, but this story from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette is better than most.

Woosnam, on anti-TNF therapy, is one stroke off the lead

Pro golfer Ian Woosnam is now taking anti-TNF treatments. They're clearly not hurting, because he's currently lying one stroke off the lead, after scores of 65 and 66 in the first two rounds, at the midway point of the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship in Hamburg. (I don't golf, but that's a good thing, right?)

See previous entry: Ian Woosnam and ankylosing spondylitis.

Update, July 30: More from the Guardian.

A grant to pinpoint AS's genes

The University of Queensland announces that "Professor Matthew Brown, from UQ's Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research (CICR), has secured a $7 million (US$5.25 million) grant from a leading American health group to pinpoint the genes behind ankylosing spondylitis."

AS in the Malaysia Star

As part of a series on rheumatology, the Malaysia Star has a long article on ankylosing spondylitis today, replete with local experts and patients. Always interesting to see how the disease is perceived elsewhere.

Gary Bosworth update

A follow-up article on the council vacancy created by Gary Bosworth's death (see previous entry) reveals the cause of death: "a blood clot to the heart, according to the Riverside County Coroner's Office. Other contributors were ankylosing spondylitis, a genetic and degenerative spinal disease from which Bosworth suffered, and hypertension."

Update, July 20: Memorial service.

Update, July 23: More on the memorial service from the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Chris Small profile

More on snooker-player-with-AS Chris Small from today's Herald.

See previous entries: AS and sports; Chris Small; Chris Small update; Chris Small benefit auction.

TNF trials in Merseyside

Hospital trials into TNF inhibitors mean that AS sufferers in Merseyside, England might get access to the treatment a year early, the Liverpool Echo reports.

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(More about RSS from BBC, Six Apart and Wikipedia.)

Gary Bosworth, 51

Gary Bosworth, a four-term Desert Hot Springs city councillor with ankylosing spondylitis who inadvertently made headlines last fall when the city's outgoing mayor said he should not be re-elected due to his condition, died yesterday at his home; he was 51. The cause of death has not yet been determined. (The former mayor asserted last year that AS nearly killed Bosworth twice before, which I thought was either loony or mean, and almost certainly false, at the time.)

See previous entries: Mayor opposes council candidate with AS; Councillor with AS re-elected.