Current Advances in Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

INTRODUCTION Exciting advances in the understanding of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its pathogenesis are providing new hope for those suffering from this debilitating disease. A currently incurable autoimmune disorder, RA is one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis, causing suffering, disability (90% within 20 years will become clinically disabled), and even premature death. Many of the past and current therapies offer little more than symptomatic relief.1 Even the so-called disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) do not halt the progression of this disease, but rather decrease the onset of disability by 30%.2 Recent research into the complex and varied components of this disease is leading to the development of more effective targets for pharmacological approach than ever before.