[Development of new drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].
Development of new drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be classified into two categories: one is modification and improvement of the drugs being used now and the other is development of more effective drugs which are being developed by virtue of progress in immunology and molecular biology. The author describes the present status of the treatment of RA and its future trend: anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory drugs which may be developed in the near future, recent progress in prodrugs of NSAID, cytokine antagonists, particularly for IL-1, and more specific immunological approaches to the treatment of RA. It is hoped that these potential anti-rheumatic drugs will be developed in next the 10-20 years.
Mizushima
Y
Y
Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University School of Medicine.
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011355:Prodrugs
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011355:Prodrugs