News

Disease management for Rheumatoid Arthritis follows a stepwise approach using DMARDs to achieve sustained remission or at least low disease activity. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of patients show a refractory disease necessitating further research. New biologics are currently being developed which inhibit pathogenic B- and T-cell responses, inflammatory cytokines and co-stimulatory signalling pathways or protein citrullination. Novel small molecules acting on certain melanocortin receptors may rebalance the overactive immune system. Innovative cell therapies including products based on T-cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target B-cell proteins have already demonstrated drug-free remission in individual case studies.

The Charité Research Organisation has profound experience in the conduct of early phase projects for new medicines to treat autoimmune diseases including Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis. We want to share our expertise in this review article.

Author and Contact:
Claudia Werner, MD, PhD
Charité Research Organisation GmbH
Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
claudia.werner@charite-research.org