Currently there are several studies underway attempting to develop a vaccine for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Scientist in the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel are conducting clinical trials for the vaccine that each country is trying to develop. Each country and trial approaches the issue from a different perspective. It will be at least 5 years before any vaccine is ready for market but it is encouraging news for those of us who deal with the effects of this disease.
Recently in Vienna, VA the Senior Vice President of Research, Cellular Immunology of CEL-SCI Corporation, Dr Daniel Zimmerman presented data that indicates that treatment with the CEL-2000 vaccine prevents or retards tissue damage caused by RA. In animal studies, mice were treated to induce the disease to a measurable level at which point they were treated with either Enbrel or CEL-2000. Over the course of 28 days the CEL-2000 was injected twice and Enbrel every other day and an arthritis index score was given both both sets of test animals. The study was continued for an additional 28 days after which it was determined that the new vaccine was able to reduce the effects of severe rheumatoid arthritis with a simple vaccination. Human clinical trials have not yet been scheduled.
Scientists at Newcastle University’s Musculoskeletal Research Group in the UK are hoping to develop a vaccine using patients own blood cells to suppress the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The research is being funded by a 216,000 pound grant from the Arthritis Research Campaign. John Isaacs, Professor of Clinical Rheumatology at Newcastle University is leading the team that will test the effectiveness of the experimental vaccine on eight rheumatoid arthritis patient volunteers. The patent’s own blood will be harvested and treated with the vaccine and then injected back into the patients affected joints. If these experiments are successful, future larger scale trials will be scheduled.
In studies funded by the Israeli company ProtAb late stage clinical trials for an antibody treatment called Protimab are underway. The technology was founded from the research conducted by Professor Yaakov Naparstek of Hebrew University in Jerusalem. This antibody that they have developed targets the molecules in the body that stop pro-inflammation cytokines from doing their job rather than attacking the molecules that cause inflammation. The company hopes to begin clinical trials for Phase I & IIa within the next two years.
All this is a hopeful sign for those of us with rheumatoid arthritis. Which company or country has the best solution to the issues that face those of us with RA has yet to be determined. The results of these and other clinical trials and time may be the determining factor.
Tags: arthritis, Arthritis Research Campaign, CEL-2000, clinical trials, cytokines, Enbrel, immune, Israel, John Isaacs, Musculoskeletal Research Group, Newcastle University, Professor of Clinicla Rheumatology, ProtAb, Protimab, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthitis, UK, United Kingdom, United States, vaccine
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Its interesting that this is termed a vaccine. A vaccine is typically associated with training the immune system to recognize a foreign body such as a virus. While promising, this seems much more like a treatment as it wouldn’t be something that every child would be inoculated with in order for them to avoid ever developing the condition.
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