New rheumatoid arthritis treatments to come to market soon

Rheumatoid arthritis patients are set to benefit from an influx of new treatments in the next eight years.

This is according to a new report by research organisation Research and Markets, which predicts this will help people manage the condition and ease the workload of health services across the world.

The report predicts Abbott's popular biological therapy adalimumab (brand name Humira) will remain an important treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, but a number of other pharmaceutical companies will bring products to market between now and 2022.

Companies such as Pfizer and Eli Lilly have 'first-in class' treatments in the pipeline and according to the report, development will focus on new approaches to providing treatment for arthritis patients, such as oral administration of drugs, improved drug availability, more convenient dosing frequencies and novel mechanisms of action.

Research and Markets said the physical, emotional and financial issues created by rheumatoid arthritis cause half of people with the condition to give up work within ten years of being diagnosed.

This can place a strain on health services, with the cost of therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in the US reaching nearly $19 billion (£11.4 billion) in 2011.

The report forecast the total sales of treatments in the US, major European and Asian economies will be around $21 billion by 2022.

Earlier this year, data from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study found rheumatoid arthritis was the 42nd highest contributor to global disability. Statistics from the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases revealed the condition is present in 0.24 per cent of the world population.

A spokesman for Arthritis Research UK, whose pioneering and development of anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis spawned a host of new and effective biological therapies, welcomed the report's conclusions.

"In the next few years as the older biological therapies come off patent, there will also be a number of 'bio-similar' drugs coming onto the market -'copies' of the original drugs which could be around 30 per cent cheaper. This could also have a significant impact on both patient choice, and NHS costs," he added. - See more at: www.arthritisresearchuk.org/news/general-news/2014/february/new-rheumatoid-arthritis-treatments-to-come-to-market-soon.aspx