Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

RA - GenefronRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints.It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and hands are involved, with the same joints typically involved on both sides of the body. The disease may also affect other parts of the body. This may result in a low red blood cell count, inflammation around the lungs, and inflammation around the heart.

RA affects about 26.5 million people as of 2019. The prevalence is considered between 0.5 and 1.% of adults in the developed world with 20 to 50 per 100,000 people newly developing the condition each year. Onset is most frequent during middle age (35-50) and women are affected 2.5 times as frequently as men. In 2013, RA resulted in 38,000 deaths up from 28,000 deaths in 1990.

the first line of treatment for RA patients includes non biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS)in which the most common drug in this family is Methotrexate (Mtx). however, 25% of these new patients receive second-line biological treatment mostly TNF blockers or specific interleukin blockers or immune cells depletion drugs.

There is high % of people that do not respond to  anti TNF (also known as TNF blockers) or IL6 treatments. The consequence: advancing disease, unneeded suffer and waste of financial resources.

Currently, there is NO way to know in advance whether a patient will respond to either of the drug families.

We have the knowledge to know in advanced who will respond to IL6 or anti TNF

Genefron Diagnostic Kit:

Genefron PDK IFR 300 (RA patients) – Is used for predicting RA patients’ response to second line, anti-TNF  family of drugs (such as Humira, Enbrell etc). The test is based on specific biomarkers (specific gene expression levels) of the patient immune system. The accuracy of the testis 88%, (Vs. 50%-60% random success) and it is approved by the Israeli MOH and recommended by the Israeli society of rheumatology.

Genefron IFR 310 (RA patients is currently in clinical trials) is used for predicting RA patients’ response to B cell depletion drugs.  The major goal of BCD therapy is to destroy autoimmune disease producing B cells in patients with autoimmune diseases, while at the same time retaining protective B cell immunity. Although it is widely used, the BCD mechanism of action is not fully clear.  IFR310 presents ~90% accuracy vs. 60% today.