Three new drugs that treat rheumatoid arthritis effectively

Austrian researchers have recently successfully tested 3 new drugs to treat chronic arthritis. This event is considered to be an important ' revolution ' in the treatment of arthritis. The three drugs are: MabThera (Rituximab), Orencia (Abatacept) and Tocilizumab.

The results of clinical trials have shown that these drugs work to curb the development of rheumatoid arthritis, and significantly reduce symptoms of the disease.

Symptoms of 50% reduction

The new drug offers hope for about a third of patients who are not compatible with the drugs currently being used for treatment.(Photo: Daily Express)

"The three new drugs are very promising ," said lead researcher Professor Josef Smolen of Vienna Medical University, Austria . All have the effect of drastically reducing symptoms of arthritis, limiting the development of joint lesions, improving the health status and motor function of the body. '

In clinical trials, experts looked at the effectiveness of three new drugs in many ways, including using them independently or in combination with traditional medicines.

These three new drugs are called ' smart ' drugs, because each contains molecules that affect the different components of the immune system. They work in a way that suppresses or blocks the activity of cells that play a role in causing arthritis.

MabThera acts on B cells, the white blood cells that function to produce antibodies to protect the body. But in the progressive rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease - these cells have malfunctioned by attacking a patient's joints.

Meanwhile, Orencia has the effect of blocking T cell activity, another type of white blood cell, and Tocilizumab disables interleukin-6, a signaling molecule that activates many types of immune system cells. Translate.

Test results showed that MabThera reduced symptoms by more than 50% for more than one third of patients. Orencia helps reduce symptoms by 50% for about 40% of patients, when used in conjunction with Methotrexate - a basic drug used for patients with advanced arthritis at an early stage.

Meanwhile, the test results of Tocilizumab combined with Methotrexate are similar to those in Orencia.

During the trial, some patients treated with MabThera or Orencia had a higher level of infection before taking the drug. For Tocilizumab, side effects have been reported such as headache, skin rash, fever and increased blood cholesterol.

New drugs have the effect of slowing the growth of rheumatoid arthritis, and significantly reducing symptoms of the disease.(Photo: In The News)

In this regard, the research team said: 'During the trial, there were some patients who did not have positive reactions to new drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to find more appropriate treatments and therapies to increase positive response and achieve a higher rate of disease reduction, even cure the disease. The success of new drugs is huge. '

'New era in treating arthritis'

Increased chronic arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system instead of protecting the body commands an antibody to attack the body's components. In this disease, the antibodies attack the joints, causing cartilage and bone to swell, inflate and injure, making the patient very painful.

Currently - according to the team - traditional medicines used to treat this disease only have limited effects, even a combination of them with newer drugs, such as necrosis factor inhibitors. In ulcers, it is also not effective.

Therefore, it is necessary to research and develop new drugs with higher efficacy. New medicines for arthritis treatment are considered the beginning of a ' revolution ' in which doctors and patients will have more appropriate choices during treatment.

In a report on this study in the medical journal The Lancet on June 13, Professor Smolen wrote: 'The birth of new drugs has opened a new era that has begun in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. chronic joints increase gradually ".

Professor Alan Silman, Medical Director of the Arthritis Research Campaign in the UK, said that 'the new drug will bring hope to about a third of patients who are not compatible with drugs. are being used to treat them '.

Quang Thinh

According to BBC, PharmaTimes, In The News, Daily Express, VNN