The European Commission (EC) has granted orphan drug designation to aTyr Pharma’s lead therapeutic candidate efzofitimod for treating sarcoidosis. Orphan drug status is granted to investigational therapies that show significant potential for treating chronic or life-threatening disease that affect no more than five in 10,000 people in the…

The pulmonary microbiota — the collection of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that live inside the lung in people — is less diverse in individuals with stable sarcoidosis than in their healthy peers, a new study suggests. Notably, this imbalance was more pronounced for fungi than for bacteria. In…

Off-label use of TNF-alpha inhibitors may help some people with hard-to-treat sarcoidosis ease their symptoms or prevent them from getting worse, according to a meta-analysis study. Data also showed that these inhibitors, particularly Remicade (infliximab), may work slightly better for patients who have symptoms of sarcoidosis…

I was recently scrolling through my Instagram feed when I saw a post from another sarcoidosis advocate that struck me. It was a simple video showing her with the text “1974” and a caption that read, “Starting today I’m 48 years old for only 48 more days. I’m entering…

Sarcoidosis led to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), a rare blood disorder, and associated severe kidney damage and blood-related abnormalities in a 31-year-old man, a case study reported. This rare case emphasizes the importance of considering sarcoidosis in uncommon cases of multiple organ dysfunction, as well as early intervention by a…

“The greatest failure in life is to stop trying.” — Napoleon Hill The past few days have been encouraging for me, even though living with sarcoidosis can make some days more challenging than others. I didn’t win the lottery, nor did I pay off my mortgage (wishful prayers), but…

Adalimumab — a medication that blocks the pro-inflammatory TNF-alpha protein — safely and effectively eased symptoms of cardiac sarcoidosis in seven adults, allowing them to reduce or discontinue their use of corticosteroids, a study reports. The therapy also promoted a rise in the number of lymphocytes, a type of…

In 1989, I rented my first apartment. It was in a wonderful brownstone in the same area where I grew up. My family used to shop at the Italian Market in South Philly, an area that stretches about six or seven blocks where outdoor vendors sell merchandise, such as fruits,…

Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and the collaborative pulmonology program of USF Health  have joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance to advance care and research in sarcoidosis. The Alliance is a hub of clinics and hospitals around the world, that through education,…

How are you? It’s such a common question, I’ve even learned to say it in multiple languages: Cómo estás? (Spanish), Eich at/ata? (Hebrew), Come stai? (Italian), Comment allez-vous? (French), Nǐ hǎo ma? (Chinese), Ti kanis? (Greek) — and let us not forget, “How YOU doin’?” (Joey Tribbiani, “Friends”). Ironically, when people…