Atacicept is mainly used to treat autoimmune diseases. For example, to cure rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis. However, there is still some uncertainty about the effects and side effects.
What is atacicept?
Atacicept is a relatively new active ingredient. It has already proven to be helpful against some autoimmune diseases. However, the long-term mechanism of action in particular has not yet been finally investigated. Clinical analyzes are still being carried out to weigh the benefits and dangers of the remedy.
Nevertheless, atacicept is already available in clinical therapy in some countries. Here it is mainly offered in the form of tablets. The whitish and finely crystalline powder is also rarely found in capsules.
In previous medical studies, patients were given a low to high dose solution of the drug injected into the bloodstream. The preparation is a combination of several active ingredients. It is supposed to perform different tasks in the organism.
Pharmacological effect
In chronic autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis, an excessive number of B lymphocytes is mainly found in the body of the person concerned. These cells are the basis for promoting certain cytokines - regulatory proteins that are responsible for controlling the immune reaction.
The more of these B-lymphocytes bind the cytokines BlyS (B-lymphocyte stimulator) and APRIL (A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand), the more likely the patient is to have certain physical ailments.
The atacicept introduced into the organism docks on the surface of the B lymphocytes. Here it binds the cytokines. In this way, the B-lymphocytes are significantly restricted in their growth, their lifespan and their effect on the immune system.
The impaired functionality of the body's defenses can normalize again thanks to such a therapy. For this purpose, an average treatment period of three to four months is targeted for the first fundamental improvement in symptoms.
It is also advantageous that atacicept can work without restriction even if an immune sensitization against diphtheria and tetanus has been carried out beforehand. After further studies, the drug should therefore soon be generally available.
Medical application & use
The mechanism of action has convinced in the clinical studies with a large number of useful effects. The main use for diseases that primarily result from an unstable immune system.
Improvements were noted in rheumatoid arthritis as well as in multiple sclerosis. In addition, there has been a positive effect on various clinical pictures. This includes, for example, the sensitivity to pain of the joints, especially in rheumatic patients.
Swelling in the joints of the fingers, arms and legs could also be relieved by using Atacicept. People who suffered from largely incurable rheumatism noticed an average improvement in well-being of 20 percent.
In addition, the preparation can bind other antibodies, peptides, monocytes or lymphocytes and render them harmless. After a certain occurrence, each of them has a negative influence on the organism that can lead to diseases. The ongoing studies have to prove whether Atacicept is recommended as a therapeutic agent in the long term.
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➔ Medicines to strengthen the defense and immune systemRisks & side effects
Many established drugs for curing autoimmune diseases tend to have serious side effects. These include dizziness, coughing and, in a few cases, even pneumonia.
The test phases of Atacicept so far did not suggest such a restriction. The active ingredient can even do its job in combination with other preparations. It is also important that the patients in the clinical studies did not notice any limitations in their effectiveness even after long-term use.
The immune system does not seem to develop antibodies against atacicept - however, further tests have to be carried out here as well in order to obtain a final result.
However, there are indications that the remedy represents a new option for treating autoimmune diseases and, in comparison to active ingredients from the same genus, does not trigger any or at least fewer undesirable side effects.