A new therapeutic approach for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could help prolong the time between flare-ups and even prevent the onset of the disease in at-risk patients.

This is the promise of a new study by researchers who have developed nanoparticles that both slow disease progression and reduce flare severity—rather than just manage symptoms.

RA is a chronic condition which cannot be cured that affects some 1.5 million people in the U.S. alone. It occurs when the immune system attacks joint tissue, causing inflammation, swelling and pain. As the disease progresses, more serious cartilage and bone damage can occur if not managed properly.

While disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like abatacept canreduce arthritis activity and slow progression of symptoms, most people still

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