Restoring immunosuppression in RA

Researchers at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have identified a way to dial down excessive activation of T cells in rheumatoid arthritis and potentially other autoimmune diseases.¹ Amplimmune Inc. has in-licensed the IP and has a therapeutic in preclinical development that blocks activation of T cells before they can release proinflammatory cytokines; thus the compound works upstream of RA drugs that inhibit tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

Co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory molecules expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are essential for maintaining a balanced immune response that fights infection without triggering autoimmunity.²...