0
0
In a significant breakthrough for arthritis research, a drug commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis has shown promise in preventing the onset of the disease in individuals deemed to be at high risk. Results from a Phase 2b clinical trial, published in The Lancet, reveal that the biologic drug abatacept could potentially reduce progression to this debilitating chronic inflammatory condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis afflicts millions worldwide, characterized by the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues, leading to joint pain, swelling, and disability. While the disease typically begins in middle age, it can affect individuals across various age groups, and until now, no cure or prevention method existed.
Abatacept, currently employed as a second or third-line treatment for established rheumatoid arthritis, is administered through weekly injections at home or hospital drips. Researchers from King’s College London embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor, recruiting 213 patients at high risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis to assess whether a year-long treatment with abatacept could forestall the progression of the disease.
The study enrolled men and women over 18 with early symptoms like joint pain but no swelling, randomly assigning half to receive the drug and the other half a placebo weekly for a year. Following the treatment period, the study drug was discontinued, and participants were monitored for an additional 12 months.
The results after twelve months of treatment were striking: only 6% of patients treated with abatacept had developed arthritis, compared to 29% in the placebo group. Even after 24 months, the disparities remained significant, with 25% progressing to rheumatoid arthritis in the abatacept group versus 37% in the placebo group.
Professor Andrew Cope from King’s College London, one of the study’s lead authors, hailed the findings as groundbreaking. “This is the largest rheumatoid arthritis prevention trial to date and the first to show that a therapy licensed for use in treating established rheumatoid arthritis is also effective in preventing the onset of disease in people at risk,” he stated.
Cope added that these initial results offer hope for individuals at risk of arthritis, not only by preventing disease onset but also by alleviating symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Moreover, the trial revealed that abatacept was associated with improvements in pain scores, function, quality of life measurements, and reduced inflammation of joint linings detectable by ultrasound scans.
The implications of this study extend beyond individual health, potentially offering significant benefits to healthcare systems like the NHS, particularly as the aging population increases the burden of rheumatoid arthritis treatment costs.
While further research is needed to validate these findings, the study marks a significant step forward in the quest to combat rheumatoid arthritis and improve the lives of those affected by the disease.
