New Blood Test Offers Hope for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
In a breakthrough for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune conditions, a new blood test called PrismRA is set to revolutionize the way care is provided. By combining clinical factors, blood tests, and 19 gene patterns, PrismRA identifies patients who are unlikely to respond to a common class of drugs called tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis), which are typically used to treat RA.
One of the challenges in treating RA has been the significant variation in patient response to medications. Currently, insurers often decide which drug a patient should be prescribed, frequently favoring TNFis due to rebate agreements with manufacturers. However, this often means patients have to endure a trial-and-error period with multiple medications before finding one that actually works. This process can cause anxiety, frustration, and prolonged pain for patients with autoimmune conditions.
PrismRA has the potential to significantly improve this situation. Although the test has been rarely covered by insurance until now, there is hope on the horizon. As of October 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid have started reimbursing for PrismRA, which is expected to increase its utilization. By identifying patients who are unlikely to respond to TNFis upfront, the test could save insurers thousands of dollars per patient by avoiding the prescribing of ineffective drugs.
The availability of tests like PrismRA could potentially cut TNFi prescriptions by up to a third, greatly impacting insurers’ approach to treatment options. Currently, AbbVie, the manufacturer of Humira, one of the widely prescribed TNFis, sold over $3.5 billion worth of the drug in the third quarter of 2022. However, the company declined to comment on its use of precision medicine, highlighting the potential implications of tests like PrismRA on the pharmaceutical industry.
Patients are eagerly welcoming this new development. They express a desire for blood tests that can identify effective drugs upfront, reducing the time spent on ineffective treatments and improving their overall quality of life. The introduction of PrismRA and similar tests presents a new frontier in personalized medicine, offering hope for RA patients and paving the way for more effective and tailored treatments in the future.
In conclusion, the PrismRA blood test is set to bring about significant advancements in the care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions. By identifying patients who are unlikely to respond to TNFis upfront, the test offers the potential to cut down on ineffective treatments, reduce costs for insurers, and improve the quality of life for patients. With reimbursements from Medicare and increased attention on precision medicine, the utilization of PrismRA is expected to rise, providing hope for a more targeted and personalized approach to treating autoimmune conditions.
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