Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints.1,2 As a result, inflammation occurs causing the tissue that lines the inside of joints to thicken, leading to swelling and pain around the joints.1 Other symptoms include appearance of nodules or lumps under the skin, fever or fatigue.1
RA affects more than 450,000 people in the UK.2 It can affect adults at any age, but most commonly starts between the ages of 40 and 60. Women are two to three times more likely to be affected than men.2
As there is currently no cure for RA; treatment goals focus on disease management, including:1
- Controlling disease progression
- Providing pain relief and reducing swelling
- Preventing joint damage
- Maintaining function of the affected joints and overall wellbeing
Due to RA’s widespread effect on a body and the pain it causes, people with RA may notice the condition takes a toll on their relationships or ability to work, leading to financial concern.3 We want to fully understand the strain that RA places on people’s lives, which is why we are collaborating with the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society to alleviate the burden on patients.
UCB are committed to serving areas of unmet need and searching for solutions for specific patient populations, such as women, who are disproportionally affected by a condition like RA.4 We aim to improve the lives of people with RA by exploring innovative approaches to move from symptomatic treatment to disease modification, including disruptive treatments with immune reset potential.
To learn more about RA, head to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society.
For healthcare professionals:
If you’re a healthcare professional and want to learn more about UCB in RA, head to UCBCares.
References
1 Arthritis Foundation. Rheumatoid Arthritis. Available at: : https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/. Last accessed: December 2024.
2 National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society. What is RA? Available at: https://www.nras.org.uk/what-is-ra-article. Last accessed: December 2024.
3 Versus Arthritis. What is rheumatoid arthritis? Available at: https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/. Last accessed: December 2024.
4 Buckwalter JA, Lappin DR. The disproportionate impact of chronic arthralgia and arthritis among women. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2000 Mar;(372):159-68.
IE-DA-2400183 | December 2024