PhRMA, Lupus Foundation report highlights autoimmune drug development

WASHINGTON — A new report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the Lupus Foundation of America is highlighting work being done by biopharmaceutical researchers to treat autoimmune diseases. According to the report, some 311 medicines and vaccines for autoimmune diseases are either in clinical trials or awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval.

 

“The question of why the immune system in some people attacks healthy cells remains top of mind for biopharmaceutical researchers striving to discover new treatments and cures for the 23.5 million Americans affected by an autoimmune disease,” PhRMA president and c Stephen J. Ubl, president and chief executive officer of PhRMA. “While there are a number of challenges in diagnosing and treating these diseases, the significant progress that has been made in the last decade provides hope for the future.”

 

 The medicines in development include 76 for autoimmune types of arthritis, 58 for inflammatory bowel disease, 39 for Lupus, 34 for Type 1 diabetes and 32 for multiple sclerosis. Lupus affects about 1.5 million Americans and an estimated 16,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. 

 

To read the full report, click here.