Autoimmune diseases refer to diseases caused by abnormal immune responses to normal parts of the body. It is usually caused by an overactive or dysfunctional immune system attacking and damaging own tissues.  Examples of autoimmune diseases include: rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis, Type I diabetes mellitus, and psoriasis.
 
Traditional treatments rely on drugs that suppress immune system activity, for example, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), methotrexate and other anti-purine metabolite drugs. Newer generation biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies, act by disrupting the signal transduction of inflammatory cytokines and their receptors. The side effects and efficaciousness of these existing therapies leave much room for improving patient care.   We work closely with health care professionals to identify unmet patient needs,  and to develop new treatment choices for suffers of autoimmune diseases.
 
There is a complex immune system in the human body to protect against foreign invasion. Foreign bodies such as viruses and bacteria are identified by the immune system to initiate a series of rejection and removal processes. Under normal circumstances, the immune system does not or only produces a very weak autoimmune response against the biological molecules of its own tissues. However, for some reason, if the autoimmune response reaches a certain intensity, the attack on its own normal tissue will manifest as clinical symptoms, collectively referred to as autoimmune diseases.
 
Changes in life styles, environmental factors and increase of human life expectancy have made the incidence of autoimmune diseases second only to cardiovascular and oncological diseases.  These chronic diseases have a great impact on human health and the quality of life for people across the globe. The immune system is a double-edged sword. The new generation of immunomodulators should have a clear mechanism of action, be capable of not only blocking the attack of the immune system on normal tissues, but also allowing it to maintain vigilance and effectiveness against malignant tumors and intruders such as bacteria and viruses.