Difficult-to-treat RA

KINERET for difficult-to-treat RA

Why some RA patients don’t respond to conventional therapies

If your patient has tried and failed multiple RA treatments, their disease may be driven by autoinflammation.1,2

An older couple wearing sunglasses holds hands and walks through tall grass in a field on a clear day while looking at each other

Difficult-to-treat RA

Two overlapping squares that are transparent

“Before KINERET, I tried many different treatments to get my symptoms under control, but many of them didn't work for me.” —Peggy, RA patient

Individuals featured in this material have experience with KINERET and may no longer be on treatment.

RA exists along a spectrum

Though RA is primarily defined as an autoimmune disease, the distinction between autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease isn’t clear. Because there are various interactions and similarities between the innate and adaptive immune systems, they may be viewed as 2 ends of the same spectrum.1,2 Some patients have RA that is closer to the autoinflammatory end of that spectrum1

A horizontal cylindrical shape represents the spectrum of rheumatoid arthritis. On the left of the shape it says "AUTOIMMUNE" with 13 human-shaped icons above it. On the right side of the shape it says "AUTOINFLAMMATORY" and has only 3 human-shaped icons above it

Where does your patient’s RA fall?

Understanding which end of the spectrum your patient’s disease leans toward can be challenging, but there are key clues to watch for. Along with treatment history, you may want to consider any elevated acute-phase reactants and extraarticular signs of inflammation, including:

  • Fever3,4 
  • Rash1 
  • Fatigue3,4
  • Muscle weakness4 
  • Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye)4
Megan, an adult female patient with rheumatoid arthritis, stands outside her house holding a thermos and tote bag. She has a determined look on her face as she looks up at the sky
Two overlapping squares that are transparent

“I spent 2 years trying and failing multiple RA drugs, never knowing which drug might treat some symptoms but exacerbate others...I began to feel that my rheumatologist and I were firing shots into the air and hoping we hit something.”—Megan, RA patient

Individuals featured in this material have experience with KINERET and may no longer be on treatment.

Steroid resistance can be a telling clue

Since RA is typically considered an autoimmune disease, therapies targeting the adaptive immune system (like steroids) are often prescribed. But autoinflammatory disease isn’t usually well controlled by these types of therapies.3 There may be several factors at play, including:

red dots scattered
red hexagons arranged together
red arrows weaving together
red dna icon

The overexpression of
cytokines that suppress
steroid sensitivity5

Dysregulation of
steroid receptors5

The signaling of
inflammatory pathways5

Genetic
mutations5

KINERET is a very specific treatment for a very specific RA patient

RA that is primarily autoinflammatory may be mediated by interleukin-1 (IL-1), cytokines produced by cells in the innate immune system.6 KINERET is an IL-1 receptor antagonist, blocking an underlying cause of inflammation in difficult-to-treat RA.7

Learn how KINERET works

An illustrated diagram of how the KINERET® (anakinra) molecule blocks the receptor from receiving IL-1 signaling
PREVIOUS: About KINERET
NEXT: Patient ID