About 1.5 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks healthy cells, typically around the joints, causing swelling and deformity. Generally, doctors prescribe the drug methotrexate, which reduces pain and swelling and can also slow joint damage and disease progression over time. But it doesn’t work for everyone. Next, doctors often prescribe drugs such as Humira and Enbrel — from the seemingly ubiquitous TV ads — that block a molecule called tumor necrosis factor alpha, which regulates the body’s inflammatory responses.
Baltimore company designing rheumatoid arthritis drug gets OK from FDA to start testing on patients
October 2, 2023
