Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Elevated blood levels of fatty molecules, or lipids — specifically triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), also known as bad cholesterol — may be linked with an increased risk of developing sarcoidosis, while certain lipid-lowering medications may help reduce the risk. That’s according to a study that looked at…

A study shows therapeutic doses of Atyr Pharma’s experimental therapy efzofitimod were associated with a lower rate of relapse in people with pulmonary sarcoidosis who were tapering oral corticosteroids, a mainstay treatment linked with toxic side effects when given for long periods and at high doses. While the…

Two early-career scientists each were awarded $150,000 Sarcoidosis Research Fellowship grants from the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) to support projects that aim to investigate the causes of sarcoidosis and improve patient outcomes. The fellowships were awarded to Greer Waldrop, MD, PhD, at the University of California,…

Enrollment in aTyr Pharma’s pivotal Phase 3 EFZO-FIT clinical trial, testing the effectiveness and safety of efzofitimod in people with pulmonary sarcoidosis, is now complete. The study exceeded its target number of participants, recruiting 268 patients in 85 centers across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Brazil. Top-line data are expected…

Microblading, a cosmetic technique that employs fine needles to deposit pigment to mimic the appearance of hairs, may be among triggers for sarcoidosis, according to a study. “When esthetic procedures become increasingly popular, patients with chronic lesions at the injection site of the foreign material, especially macular, papular, or…

A 37-year-old woman in Japan developed a granuloma — the clumps of cells that characterize sarcoidosis — in her thyroid gland that spontaneously regressed without steroid treatment, a case study reports. The woman also showed lesions in the skin and salivary gland, suggesting “thyroid sarcoidosis should be considered in…

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) has launched the Coalition for Clinical Trial Equity, aimed at increasing the representation of Black and African American sarcoidosis patients in trials testing potential treatments. Despite Black Americans being 2.5 times more likely to have sarcoidosis than white Americans, these patients…

The Phase 2 clinical trial RESOLVE-Lung, which is testing namilumab as a treatment for people with chronic pulmonary sarcoidosis, is now fully enrolled. According to Kinevant Sciences, the therapy’s developer, 107 patients with hard-to-treat pulmonary sarcoidosis — disease that’s “not well-controlled despite currently available treatment” — have been…

A first patient has been dosed in Scotland as part of Molecure’s Phase 2 clinical trial — taking place in the U.S. and Europe — that will test the pulmonary sarcoidosis treatment candidate OATD-01 versus a placebo. “The first administration to a patient with pulmonary sarcoidosis is the realization…

Elevated blood levels of total blood cholesterol and low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) — commonly called the “good” cholesterol — showed a significant correlation with sarcoidosis, according to a retrospective study conducted in China. These findings suggest HDL and total blood cholesterol “could be regarded as…