Drug used by millions for common condition may end pain for arthritis sufferers

26 August 2023 , 17:44

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Drug could give new hope to arthritis sufferers (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Arthritis sufferers have been given fresh hope of a life free of pain after studies on a drug ­developed for use by diabetics.

Researchers found medication that controls blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes can also help patients with certain autoimmune diseases. The drug, Canagliflozin, also targets T-cells – a type of white blood cell that usually helps us fight infections. These cells are known to mistakenly attack healthy tissues in patients with autoimmune diseases, so using Canagliflozin to inhibit them could aid the more than 400,000 people in the UK with rheumatoid arthritis and the 50,000 living with lupus.

Lupus causes joint pain, skin rashes and tiredness, and celebrity sufferers include actress Sally Hawkins and Made in Chelsea’s Louise Thompson. Dr Nick Jones, who led the Swansea University study, said: “Our findings are significant as they provide the foundation for the clinical development of Canagliflozin for treatment of certain autoimmune diseases.

Dr Nick Jones (DAILY MIRROR)

“As the drug is already widely used and has a known safety profile in humans, it could potentially reach clinic quicker than any new drugs developed and bring valuable benefits more swiftly to patients.” Co-researcher Ben Jenkins added: “Identifying new roles for drugs being used in other disease settings is an exciting area of research.

“Given that our research primarily targets the metabolism of immune cells, we hope that the potential therapeutic benefits of our findings are applicable to a wide range of conditions.” The team now hope to move their study to clinical trials.

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