About one percent of people suffer from chronic polyarthritis (rheumatism in the joints). Over the past 20 years, treatment options have improved so much that stopping the disease has become a realistic goal. Now a new treatment has been announced: the direct blockade of the inflammatory messenger interleukin-6. In a study with the Viennese rheumatologist Josef Smolen, it was examined with positive results.
In addition to the so-called basic therapeutics, such as low-dose methotrexate, biotech drugs have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with the threat of irreversible joint damage. The new active substance, which is now being examined in a clinical study, is again a biotech drug. Olokizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds directly to interleukin-6 and is supposed to paralyze its effect. Conclusion of the authors: Within three months, the new drug was better than the placebo and about as good as the monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor alpha. The study authors emphasized that longer clinical investigations will be necessary in order to be able to make an even better judgement.
Source: Nachrichten
