Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

Higher doses of the investigational therapy efzofitimod significantly reduced relapse rates after a dose of a corticosteroid was reduced in people with pulmonary sarcoidosis, according to a new, pooled analysis of Phase 1b/2a trial data. The first-in-class immunomodulatory therapy, developed by aTyr Pharma, also significantly improved lung…

Most cardiac sarcoidosis patients respond to six months of first-line treatment with the corticosteroid prednisolone and show reduced active inflammation in the heart, according to a small study in Japan. Cardiovascular events were less common among responders relative to those who respondly poorly, further confirming first-line prednisolone’s effectiveness…

Despite advances in testing, fewer than one of every six people evaluated for suspected neurosarcoidosis — sarcoidosis affecting the nervous system — received a definite diagnosis of the inflammatory disorder, according to a 30-year study in Sweden. A confirmed neurosarcoidosis diagnosis in those cases was made only following a…

Patient and physician education, trust-building, and support mechanisms are needed to reduce barriers to clinical trial participation for Black people with sarcoidosis, according to a paper by the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FRS). The white paper was titled “Ignore No More Campaign on Clinical Trials…

In advance of Sarcoidosis Awareness Month in April, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) and aTyr Pharma will hold a virtual town hall about sarcoidosis and considerations for transitioning from standard corticosteroids to new therapies. The meeting, which is open to anyone, will be held online at…

Researchers have uncovered a network of abnormally activated immune cells and fibroblasts — the primary active cell of connective tissue — within granulomas, the clumps of cells that cause sarcoidosis. The key players in granuloma formation include metabolically reprogrammed immune macrophages, immune T-helper (Th) cells producing pro-inflammatory molecules, and…

Findings of defects in the heart’s right ventricle, as assessed with an MRI scan, can predict the occurrence of cardiovascular events in people with confirmed or suspected cardiac sarcoidosis, a review study showed. Particularly, scarring in the right ventricle muscle was a “strong independent predictor” of sudden heart-related death,…

A Phase 3 clinical trial testing the ability of efzofitimod to safely improve lung function and reduce corticosteroid usage in adults with pulmonary sarcoidosis has dosed its first participant. The aTyr Pharma-sponsored study, dubbed EFZO-FIT, will take place at multiple centers in North America, Europe, and Japan.

Researchers have developed a highly selective and sensitive test to detect neuropilin-2 (NRP2), the therapeutic protein target of efzofitimod, an experimental treatment for pulmonary sarcoidosis by aTyr Pharma. Using immunohistochemical (IHC) detection methods, the new antibody-based tool — created in collaboration with Michael Muders, at the University Hospital…

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) has awarded pulmonologist Nancy Lin, MD, at National Jewish Health, the FSR Sarcoidosis Research Fellowship for 2022–2024. Her project, “Defining MicroRNA Biomarkers in Sarcoidosis,” has been granted $150,000 over two years to improve the management of people with sarcoidosis through the identification of…