Citation | Autoimmune diseases are common chronic disabling illnesses with no effective therapy until recently. In elegant studies in vitro, Feldmann demonstrated that antibodies to tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blocked the production of major pro-inflammatory cytokines in joint synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Furthermore, blocking TNF in animal models of RA ameliorated disease. Feldmann, together with his clinical colleagues, then treated RA patients with anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies with spectacular results, especially with methotrexate. A million patients have now been treated, with profound impact on medical practice. Furthermore this seminal conceptual advance has been applicable to a variety of other diseases. |