Italian-German Research Shows Immunotherapy Drug Blinatumomab Successful in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
A groundbreaking study conducted by Italian and German researchers has revealed that the immunotherapy drug blinatumomab, commonly known as Blina, has shown promising results in treating rheumatoid arthritis. The study, published in Nature Medicine, involved administering Blina to six patients with multi-treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis, including an Italian patient.
The research, led by Maria Antonietta D’Agostino from the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation Irccs and Georg Schett from the University Friedrich-Alexander of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Fau), showed that Blina led to a rapid decline in disease activity, reduced levels of circulating antibodies, and improved inflammation of the synovial tissues – all documented through various tests including ultrasound.
Blina is a bispecific monoclonal antibody, known as a BiTE (Bispecific T cell engager), that works by helping suppressor T cells destroy B cells, ultimately facilitating the elimination of ‘deviant’ B cells that produce antibodies directed against the joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Laboratory analyses, including high-dimensional flow cytometry, confirmed that the clinical improvement seen in patients was due to an immune ‘reset’, wherein ‘bad’ B cells producing auto-antibodies were eliminated and replaced by ‘good’ B cells.
D’Agostino commented on the results, stating, “These results are very promising in terms of the extent of the response and the tolerability of the drug. They suggest the potential usefulness of this therapeutic approach in severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis that are resistant to current therapies. Furthermore, this result could mark the beginning of a new era of treatment for other B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, from lupus to scleroderma.”
The findings of this study offer hope for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, paving the way for innovative treatment options in the future. For more information, the full article can be found on ANSA.it.