Iguratimod at the EULAR 2013

Allow me to quote myself from last year: "Iguratimod (T-614) is a novel disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). Iguratimod is characterized by inhibitory effects on immunoglobulin production in B cells as well as inhibiting cytokine production. Its' mode of action comes by suppression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) activation." Please look for the link below. Last year there had been three studies, this year only one. My evaluation last year: "I think iguratimod is indeed a promising candidate for treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis and might become a needed alternative in the conventional (traditional) DMARD class."

The study this year on iguratimod is surprisingly by a Chinese group; W. Tan and colleagues presented: [AB0110]: "Iguratimod inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells". Conclusions: "These results indicate that iguratimod is a potent inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, supporting its therapeutic benefit for preventing bone erosion in RA." No matter how important these findings are, I had expected some clinical study this year.

Japanese and also Chinese rheumatology is different to the West as there are some DMARDs approved, we don't have here. Japan has Tacrolimus, Bucillamine, and Mizoribine for instance. So not publishing here might not mean that the drug has been abandoned. I hope for a study at the ACR 2013.

Link: http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2012/06/iguratimod-at-eular-2012.html