What’s New in RA Research?

Under Investigation

Dr. Aletaha also summarized several therapeutics that are currently under investigation in RA:

• Peresolimab is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that stimulates PD-1, a checkpoint inhibitor receptor, and may restore immune homeostasis;¹¹

• Liposomal antagomiR-155-5p is an antagonist of miR-155-5p and, through this mechanism, may help restore impaired maturation of monocytes to anti- inflammatory macrophages;¹² and

• Nanocatalytic treatment with Ru/ TiO2 is a catalytic nanoparticle that can produce oxygen and scavenge reactive oxygen species to reduce M1 macrophages and switch the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype.¹³ These and other medications are under development and review, and may be seen in European and U.S. markets in the future.

In Sum

According to Dr. Aletaha, the field of research on precision markers is very active, but use of these markers in clinical practice is not yet a reality. He noted that understanding the comorbidities that patients with RA have is highly relevant with respect to selecting appropriate therapy and understanding the likelihood that these patients may have a positive clinical response. He also explained that new Boolean-based criteria, endorsed by EULAR and the ACR, have been shown to help to improve agreement with index-based remission criteria and to classify more patients with RA as being in remission while predicting radiographic and functional outcomes for patients.¹⁴ Clearly, a great deal is new in RA, and as Dr. Aletaha pointed out, 2024 will likely lead to even more advances in our understanding and treatment of this serious disease.

Jason Liebowitz, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.

References

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12. Paoletti A, Bineta L, Catherine C, et al. Liposomal antagomir-155-5P restores anti-inflammatory macrophages and improves arthritis in pre-clinical models of rheumatoid arthritis [abstract OP0207]. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82:136–137.
13. Huang S, Qiu L. Nanocatalytic treatment using RU@TIO2 for rheumatoid arthritis via macrophage re-polarization [abstract OP0205]. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82:136.
14. Studenic P, Aletaha D, de Wit M, et al. American College of Rheumatology/EULAR remission criteria for rheumatoid arthritis: 2022 revision. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 Jan;75(1):15–22.