Underserved autoimmune diseases demand long-term care innovation

Sponsored by argenx

According to the Autoimmune Association, approximately 50 million Americans live with an autoimmune disease, yet these conditions remain among the most underrecognized and underserved in modern medicine.

Despite a growing body of research into more than 100 known autoimmune diseases, overall awareness and understanding of these conditions is still developing.

Today in the United States, autoimmune disease treatment continues to prioritize short-term symptom relief over long-term disease control. This systemic challenge leaves patients seeking innovative solutions.

"Autoimmune diseases are complex, often chronic conditions that demand treatments for long-term safety, sustained disease control and restoration of physical function," said Peter Ulrichts, chief scientific officer of argenx, a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases. "As scientific understanding continues to advance, we are focusing on translating that progress into innovative and patient-centered care for people living with autoimmune diseases."

Current standard of care and the need for steroid tapering

To date, corticosteroids have been the standard of care and first-line treatment across many autoimmune diseases because they can provide relief from inflammation, a common symptom of many of these conditions. According to Steritas, oral steroids are among the most prescribed medications in the United States.

However, clinical research has shown that long-term steroid use is associated with significant risk of toxicity that can lead to various issues like bone fractures, infections or hypertension. These side effects, layered on top of already challenging daily symptoms, underscore why tapering off steroid treatment is a priority for those developing new treatments for autoimmune diseases.

While clinical guidance recommends transitioning patients off chronic steroid use as quickly and safely as possible, non-steroid treatment options remain limited or inaccessible for many autoimmune diseases. In some conditions, effective alternatives do not yet exist; in others, available therapies may take time to work or fail to adequately control disease. As a result, many individuals remain dependent on steroids despite the risks associated with chronic use.

Innovations in autoimmune disease treatment

The continued reliance on long-term steroid use, despite the risk of toxicity-related health effects, highlights the need for innovation in the treatment and management of autoimmunity.

"Reducing steroid side effects relies on monitoring the patient not only on counting the pills," said Martha Stone, CEO at Steritas. "By measuring steroid toxicity directly in each patient, in clinical research and clinical care, doctors can personalize each steroid taper and help change what autoimmune disease management looks like."

Steroid-sparing treatments are becoming increasingly available, helping patients address some of these concerns. Continuing that progress requires an innovative approach to science and collaboration among researchers, healthcare providers and biotech industry innovators.

"At argenx, we're working to help people suffering from serious autoimmune diseases by developing therapies that can address the underlying drivers of disease and reduce patients' dependence on steroids, helping them achieve better outcomes with fewer long-term risks," said Luc Truyen, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of argenx.

Learn more about the effects of long-term steroid use and tracking your journey with steroids at steroidsandme.com, and explore how argenx is advancing innovative approaches to autoimmune disease care at argenx.com.