Rheumatoid Arthritis
Cell Research
Peptimmune is conducting research with PI-2301 and Cathepsin S inhibitors and their effects on rheumatoid arthritis.
Disease Overview
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that targets the lining and layer of cells (synovium) that covers the joints. Inflammation of the synovium is usually symmetrical and causes pain, swelling, stiffness, deterioration, and loss of function of the joints.
Incidence
- RA affects 1.3 million Americans and over 4 million people worldwide
- The cause of RA is unknown
Symptoms
- Onset of symptoms is usually at middle age, but the disease also affects children and young adults.
- The progression of the disease varies from person to person and patients may experience alternating periods of flares and remissions.
- Inflammation of the synovium is usually symmetrical and causes pain, swelling, stiffness, deterioration, and loss of function of the joints, usually wrist and finger joints closest to the hand.
- Other symptoms include fatigue, fever, weight loss, and general malaise.
Current treatment
- Current treatments include immunosuppressive drugs and biologic response modifiers, which ameliorate the symptoms of RA and may modify the disease.
- Biologic response modifiers are administered by intravenous infusion and sometimes produce serious side effects.
- There is a large unmet medical need for new treatments that can stop the progression of the disease with fewer side effects and improved patient convenience.
Peptimmune is conducting research with PI-2301 and Cathepsin S inhibitors and their effects on rheumatoid arthritis.
