Smart drug offers hope to thousands of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers
Published Date:
16 June 2008
A NEW "smart" drug could save thousands of rheumatoid arthritis patients from years of increasing pain and disability, research has shown.
Tocilizumab is being hailed as an important breakthrough in combating the crippling auto-immune disease which attacks the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the biggest cause of disability in the UK.
Trial results show that the new drug is nearly three times more effective at halting progression of the disease than the standard therapy given to most patients. There is also evidence it can helppatients who are running out of treatment options.
Tocilizumab is not yet licensed for use in Europe or the UK, but is expected to be launched in Britain within six months.
The drug is a laboratory-made antibody that targets a biological signalling pathway linked to inflammation and the disease.
It represents a step forward from MabThera, a drug which is only available to late-stage patients who have ceased to respond to other therapies.
The full article contains 169 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
15 June 2008 10:02 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
