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Roche announced that a total of 15 abstracts involving its investigational rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab) have been accepted for presentation at the 2008 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting, which will take place October 24-29 in San Francisco.

Approximately 21 million Americans - 9.5 percent of adults 18 and older - either visited or called a doctor for a prescription to reduce arthritis pain in 2005, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis.

An online survey for World Arthritis Day (WAD), completed by over 3,600* respondents revealed that access to psychological support and self-management courses could help people with arthritis/rheumatism cope more effectively with their condition and achieve better quality of life.

Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT; NASDAQ: EVTC) announced today that Phase I clinical studies for its proprietary, small molecule P2X7 receptor antagonist have been initiated.

The AP/Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday examined how the number of hip and knee replacements is “skyrocketing because they can successfully relieve pain and help people to walk normally again” and how the number of more complex and more expensive “revisions,” or subsequent replacements, also has increased. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons estimates that U.S.

Arthritis is the nation’s most common cause of disability. The number of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis is projected to increase to 67 million by 2030, and a large proportion of U.S. adults will limit their activity as a result, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A team of researchers from the United States and the Netherlands has identified mutations in three genes that are associated with high levels of uric acid in the blood, which is a risk factor for gout.

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Biotechnology company Arana Therapeutics Limited (ASX: AAH) announced it has submitted an Investigational New Drug application (IND) to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for the anti-inflammatory product ART621 in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) indication.

US scientists found that the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were no more effective than placebo at slowing down the rate of cartilage loss in the knees of patients with osteoarthritis; however they also said the trial was probably too short and too small, and spoke more to scientists about how to conduct further research in this area than than to patients.