Patients & Caregivers

Areas of Focus

Progressing Innovative Treatment Options for Autoimmune Disease

• Immunoglobulin G4-related Disease (IgG4-RD)

  IgG4-RD is a chronic fibro-inflammatory condition that can affect virtually all organ systems, including the pancreas, biliary tract, salivary and lacrimal glands, lungs and kidneys. IgG4-RD is a relatively recently described disease that incorporates groups of manifestations that were diagnosed as separate disease entities prior to 2003.

  IgG4-RD may present with single or multi-organ involvement and as the disease progresses, patients experience new or worsening symptoms (e.g., flare). The early inflammatory disease state moves to a fibrotic stage, which can lead to major irreversible tissue damage and organ failure. Currently, there are no approved therapies to treat IgG4-RD.

  The currently diagnosed prevalence of IgG4-RD patients in the United States is approximately 20,000, with comparable prevalence rates globally.¹

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  MS is the most common immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms include sensory and visual disturbances, coordination impairment and spasticity, fatigue, pain, weakness and cognitive deficits.

  Relapsing-remitting forms of MS are characterized by episodes of neurological dysfunction (relapses) followed by complete or incomplete recovery resulting in disease progression. Disease progression can also occur independently of relapse activity, a concept known as PIRA or “smoldering” disease. Primary progressive forms of MS are characterized by continuous disability progression without relapse. B cell-directed therapies are highly effective in treating MS.

  MS affects over two million people worldwide, including greater than 650,000 people in the United States.²

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

  SLE, the most common form of lupus, is a complex, chronic autoimmune disease characterized most notably by unpredictable flares in joints, skin, kidneys and other vital organs that cause progressive organ damage.

  SLE commonly affects the central nervous system, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, mucous membranes, heart, skin, hematologic system, musculoskeletal system and lungs. The majority of SLE cases occur in women, frequently starting at childbearing age. Comorbidities, such as infections, malignancies, hypertension, lipid disorders and diabetes, increase risk of patient disability and death. B cell-directed therapies are effective in treating SLE. The currently diagnosed prevalence of SLE (excluding lupus nephritis) in the United States is approximately 172,000, with comparable prevalence rates globally.³

• Warm Antibody Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (wAIHA)

  Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an acquired disease in which autoantibodies directed against a patient’s own red blood cell (“RBC) membrane antigens lead to their accelerated destruction, and the rate of production of new cells in the bone marrow can no longer compensate for their loss.

  wAIHA is an immune disease arising from autoantibody production against red blood cells resulting in their destruction. wAIHA is considered “warm-type,” as autoantibodies are most active at body temperature. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies are the key pathogenic factors involved in most forms of wAIHA.

  Patients present with anemia-related symptoms, such as fatigue or palpitations. More severe symptoms include jaundice, hemoglobinuria and cardiac symptoms. Currently, there are no approved therapies to treat wAIHA.

  The currently diagnosed population of wAIHA patients in the United States is approximately 40,000, with similar prevalence rates in other countries.⁴