Researchers from Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney have expressed hope over their newly developed drug to combat a severe inflammatory disease, rheumatoid arthritis. It is also claimed to improve the clinical outcome in patients with asthma, multiple sclerosis, heart attack, sepsis, psoriasis and post transplant recipients.
The unique drug formulation has been tested on animal models (mice) and promising results have been obtained. It has been found to provide a dramatic pain reduction. In addition, it also promoted the general health status of the sufferer.The identification of a specific mechanism by which the circulating while blood cells release toxic substances into the joints, causing joint damage is said to have triggered the discovery. Following injection of the new drug, the diseased tissue is restored back to the normal state within hours.
The ability of the drug to reverse the disease process in affected mice is remarkable. The development of this drug is believed to be a major milestone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers have however warned that this prospective drug treatment cannot be considered a cure as the disease can relapse sometime later.
The researchers are now eagerly looking forward to conducting an extensive human clinical trial in volunteers to determine the safety and efficacy of the drug. This proposal is expected to be materialized in the next 18 months.
