- Home
- Share
- Forum
- Multiple sclerosis Forum
- Autoimmune diseases: Ask Dr. Antoine Seignez all your questions!
- Gene therapy for autoimmune disease?
Patients Multiple sclerosis
Gene therapy for autoimmune disease?
- 11 views
- 0 support
- 1 comment
All comments
Dr.Antoine.Seignez
Dr.Antoine.Seignez
Last activity on 08/19/2024 at 6:15 PM
Joined in 2021
10 comments posted | 10 in the Multiple sclerosis Forum
Rewards
-
Contributor
-
Explorer
Hi @karm!nR,
In autoimmune diseases, the immune system, which is usually in charge of eliminating germs and preventing tumors, attacks certain parts of the body. For example, in type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys part of the pancreas, which stops the production of insulin (a hormone made by this part of the pancreas). In multiple sclerosis, the immune system damages the nerves, which causes sensitivity and movement issues.
Gene therapy is a very promising therapy for many conditions, including autoimmune diseases. The very first gene therapies have arrived on the market (mostly for cancer). The field of research is very large, and some teams are working on gene therapy for autoimmune diseases, so there is good hope that specific gene therapies for autoimmune diseases will emerge. But it would be premature to try predict a specific time frame.
To answer your second question very broadly, biologics are newer, more complicated to take (via injection), more expensive, and generally less aggressive than chemotherapy drugs. In most cases, the practice is to start with chemotherapy, an older drug whose effectiveness and side effects are well understood, and, if the disease is not stabilized, to combine it with a biologic, or, if serious side effects appear, to replace it with a biologic. There is no specific time frame for considering biotherapy, but it is usually measured in months rather than years (the official recommendation for rheumatoid arthritis is at least 3 months of maximum-dose methotrexate). Biotherapy is not "the" answer for everyone, but it often provides a significant addition to treatment.
If you suffer from an autoimmune disease and your disease is not stabilized by your background treatment, whatever it may be, I invite you to consult your doctor.
Have a nice day!
See the signature
Antoine Seignez, Doctor of Pharmacy at Carenity
Give your opinion
Members are also commenting on...
Articles to discover...
![Multiple Sclerosis: “I am a warrior, and I will overcome this illness with love and positivity.”](https://cdn-member.carenity.us/images/magazine/interview/multiple-sclerosis-surjeet-interview_300x220.png)
04/24/2024 | Testimonial
Multiple Sclerosis: “I am a warrior, and I will overcome this illness with love and positivity.”
![Multiple Sclerosis And The Success And Side-Effects With Various Treatments](https://cdn-member.carenity.us/images/magazine/article/300x220/16.jpeg)
11/26/2018 | Testimonial
Multiple Sclerosis And The Success And Side-Effects With Various Treatments
![No One Knows What Being Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis Is Like, So Maintain A Can-Do Attitude](https://cdn-member.carenity.us/images/magazine/article/300x220/18.jpeg)
08/17/2018 | Testimonial
No One Knows What Being Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis Is Like, So Maintain A Can-Do Attitude
Medication fact sheets - patient opinions...
Subscribe
You wish to be notified of new comments
You have been subscribed
karm!nR
Good advisor
karm!nR
Last activity on 02/26/2024 at 12:37 AM
Joined in 2018
48 comments posted | 1 in the Multiple sclerosis Forum
Rewards
Good Advisor
Contributor
Messenger
Explorer
Hi Dr. Seignez,
Happy Thanksgiving!
From what I've understood over the years, an autoimmune disease like RA is reaction from the body "turning against" itself.
So would it be pointless to consider gene therapy? I've heard so much about it in recent years so I was wondering if it can be applied to conditions like RA. Is there any research going on or planned in it?
Also, can you tell us what the differences (besides the exorbitant price) are between biologics and chemotherapy drugs like methotrexate in treating RA? Is one better than the other?
Thanks,
Karmin