New Protein Fights Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

British scientists have developed a new protein that fights the chronic inflammation that can lead to rheumatoid arthritis and bacterial peritonitis.

Scientists at Cardiff University and the University of Wales College of Medicine have begun a two-year study to check the therapeutic potential of this new protein and to see whether it can lead to the creation of a product for clinical use.

Inflammation occurs naturally and is crucial in getting rid of infection and repairing tissue after damage has occurred. But if the process goes wrong, it can lead to disorders such as colitis, heumatoid arthritis and bacterial peritonitis, said the scientists.

Although the project is at an early stage, Wendy Ross, a technology transfer officer at Cardiff University, told Medical Week that funding has been secured to develop the protein as a therapeutic, specifically for use in bacterial peritonitis.

Ross said the university is currently seeking commercial partners for both the pre-clinical and clinical development of the protein for the treatment of bacterial peritonitis and other immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. She added that it would be a number of years before the protein is available to patients.

Other sources: Cardiff University