Rheumatic disorders

People living with autoimmune diseases can face a lifetime of managing their condition, yet the impact of auto-immune diseases is often underestimated. Although current treatments have already made a big difference in the lives of many people, there remains a great need for medicines that work better, faster, and longer. From our expertise in immunology, therefore, continue to work on innovative medicines for immune-mediated conditions such as psoriasis, rheumatism, and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Rheumatic disorders

Rheumatism is a collective term for about two hundred acute and chronic disorders¹. Due to the malfunctioning of the immune system, these disorders cause problems in joints, muscles, tendons and/or bones. One form of rheumatism is psoriasis arthritis (PsA): in this form of inflammatory rheumatism, the joints of psoriasis patients become inflamed because the body’s own immune system attacks them. As a result, people with PsA often suffer from pain, fatigue and swelling of the joints and tendon attachments. In addition, the disease is often accompanied by morning stiffness that can last up to 2 to 3 hours². All these symptoms reduce mobility and strength. Because of this, people with PsA are often restricted in their daily activities.

In Belgium, 1 in 5 people suffer from rheumatism and for 5% this leads to serious and chronic complications³. The disease does not only occur in adults. Child rheumatism occurs in about 1 in 1,000 children in Belgium.³ PsA also occurs frequently. Approximately 80.000 people in Belgium have this disease. Typically, PsA occurs in people between the ages of 20 and 40, but the disease can also develop at a later age². The progression of the disease is different for everyone. Some patients experience minimal articular problems where other patients are severely restricted in their movements. There is currently no remedy available that can cure PsA. That is why we at Janssen are committed to developing new therapies that can make a positive contribution to the lives of people with rheumatic disorders such as PsA.

The fight against rheumatic disorders

People with a rheumatic disorder suffer daily from pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Difficulty or inability to move for long periods of time has a major impact on all kinds of daily activities. At Janssen, we have been committed to developing innovative medicines for various rheumatic disorders for more than 20 years. We have already made great progress, but we will continue to do so in order to achieve the ultimate goal: not only to treat rheumatic disorders, but to cure them completely.

Janssen's commitment in the field of rheumatism goes beyond researching and developing new medicines. We work together with patient organisations to gain a better understanding of rheumatism from the patient's perspective.

Morr information about Janssen

Read more about our activity in immunology, such as psoriasis and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and about our other areas of expertise. You can also learn more about Janssen's activities in Belgium and what working at Janssen looks like. Follow us on our social media channels Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay up to date with latest developments.