A comprehensive UK study examined the effectiveness of two biologic drugs, abatacept and adalimumab, in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among 342 patients across 53 centers. Researchers, led by Dr. Chuan Fu Yap from The University of Manchester, found no significant differences in treatment outcomes based on genetic backgrounds related to RA susceptibility. Despite examining genetic variants HLA-DRB1 shared epitope and Val11, results indicated that drug-naïve status and achieving therapeutic drug levels were more critical factors in treatment success, challenging the relevance of genetic testing for personalized treatment.

Source: Arthritis and Rheumatology