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Dr Grace C. Wright on the Need for Targeted Therapies in RA
Despite the number of available drugs for treating rheumatoid arthritis, many patients still have untreated symptoms, according to Grace C. Wright, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor of medicine and attending rheumatologist at New York University Langone Medical Center. Treatments could be tailored more efficiently if tests helped to predict which individual patients are most likely to respond to a medication.
Despite the number of available drugs for treating rheumatoid arthritis, many patients still have untreated symptoms, according to Grace C. Wright, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor of medicine and attending rheumatologist at New York University Langone Medical Center. Therapy regimens could be tailored more efficiently if tests helped to predict which individual patients are most likely to respond to a medication.
Transcript (slightly modified)
What do you think are currently the main challenges in rheumatoid arthritis treatment?
A lot of difficulties exist still in treating patients despite the number of drugs that we have. And partly it’s because we have symptoms that patients have that many of our drugs don’t effectively treat. So patients can go through 6, 7 agents and still have untreated symptoms. Clearly, clearly, we’re missing things that we need to have: better choices, better options, and better ways to tailor treatment for individual patients.
What are some developments you would like to see in rheumatoid arthritis medication?
It would be nice if we could tailor directly for the patient, so if we had a test that helped us to predict which patient would respond to a certain type or a class of medicine, then a lot of the shopping that we have to do, we could sort of cut that time down and really get patients back to function quickly. So, tailoring therapy, getting targeted treatments, that’s a key need.
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
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Dr Michael Farwell on FDG PET/CT Imaging to Predict Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Melanoma
April 15th 2024Michael Farwell, MD, associate professor of radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, provides insights into a study on the benefits of using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging to detect metabolic tumor changes in skin cancer.
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Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
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Increasing Lp(a) Awareness for Better Cardiovascular Health: Dr Mary McGowan
March 24th 2024For Lp(a) Awareness Day, Mary McGowan, MD, FNLA, chief medical officer of the Family Heart Foundation, highlights how most people with elevated Lp(a) are completely unaware that they have this increased risk and calls for increased testing.
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Dr Al Benson on Reimbursement for Supportive Care When Treating Patients With Cancer
March 22nd 2024Al Benson, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, medical oncologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and associate director of the Robert E. Tillery Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed findings from a national survey assessing barriers to comprehensive cancer care delivery.
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