AbbVie Rheumatology
AbbVie has been striving to advance the standard of care in
rheumatology for over 20 years. We are committed to creating a better
tomorrow for patients everywhere.
Since our beginning, rheumatology has been a key focus for AbbVie. Our curiosity and dedication remain unyielding as we use cutting-edge science to help improve our understanding of promising new pathways and targets, with the goal of delivering better treatment approaches for patients with rheumatic diseases.
This chronic, immune-mediated disease causes pain, stiffness,
swelling and loss of joint function. RA can reduce patients’ ability
to perform everyday tasks.
Including several forms of chronic arthritis, this immune-mediated
disease affects children ages 16 and younger. For patients living with
JIA, early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
This disease, associated with psoriasis, causes chronic pain,
stiffness and swelling in the joints. Early diagnosis is
important.
Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA)
A chronic inflammatory disease, axSpA affects the spine causing
back pain. Not all forms of axSpA show up in an x-ray even if there
are clear signs of inflammation; ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form
of axSpA that does show up in an x-ray. AS is more common in men, but
women are often underdiagnosed.
This group of eye diseases is characterized by inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. If left untreated, uveitis can lead to reduced vision or vision loss.
The most common type of lupus, especially among women of childbearing age, this immune-mediated disease is associated with inflammation of multiple organ systems.
In order to develop targeted therapies, AbbVie scientists have
demonstrated an unwavering focus on understanding what
makes the immune system turn on patients, causing RA and other
immune-mediated diseases. This knowledge allows us to target specific
enzymes involved in the process.
Immune-mediated diseases are complex and often operate through
complementary pathways. We are exploring ways to inhibit multiple
disease pathways and enable greater precision through technologies
like antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and combination therapies. First
developed for oncology, ADCs have the potential to deliver
anti-inflammatory medicine directly to a target. Combination therapies
may be needed to combat complex immune-mediated diseases by delivering
two therapies in
one package.
To help patients and health care professionals understand and
maximize the effectiveness of our medicines in the real world, we
investigate their impact outside of clinical
trial
settings.
There is currently no cure for PsA or AS, and while medical advancements have improved results, many patients are still not achieving their treatment goals.
Mudra Kapoor, MD Therapeutic Area Lead for Rheumatology Global Medical Affairs, AbbVie
Carolyn Cuff, senior director, Translational Immunology Department, AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Kristine Frank, senior principal research scientist, AbbVie, and Michael Friedman, principal scientist, AbbVie give insight into what motivates, excites and challenges a scientific team as they work to find new ways to help more rheumatoid arthritis patients achieve remission. Watch the full video (below) and see the full story here.
What does it take to make an idea come to life? Three AbbVie scientists give us an idea on what takes place behind the bench.
In 2019, Aileen Pangan, executive medical director, Immunology
Clinical Development, met with Dr. Marwan Bukhari, consultant
rheumatologist, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS, and Clare
Jacklin, deputy CEO, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, UK, to
discuss the reality of rheumatoid arthritis, what achieving remission
means to them and how researchers, healthcare providers and patient
advocates are working together with the goal to improve the future for
those with the disease. Watch the full video below (18 mins).
Aileen Pangan, executive medical director, Immunology Clinical Development, with Dr. Marwan Bukhari, consultant rheumatologist, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS, and Clare Jacklin, deputy CEO, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, UK.
JAK1
Transmits messages from the outside to the inside of a cell
that drive an immune response.
IL-23
Activates helper T-cells and certain macrophages, which produce
additional cytokines that are involved in the inflammatory process.
TNF-α
Contributes to the induction and maintenance of the
inflammatory immune response.
BTK
Involved in the maturation of B cells, which produce antibodies
that help the body protect itself.
There’s a team approach toward a patient, with a patient being at the center, which is the important thing nowadays. Back in the day, it was always about the fact that we were fighting a disease that we didn’t have the tools to fight. We now have the tools. We just need to figure out how to use them.
Marwan Bukhari, consultant rheumatologist, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, gives insight on the shift toward patient-centered care in rheumatology during an AbbVie-led panel discussion.
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