Overview
- The King's College London team extended a 2024 trial to a 4–8 year follow-up and reported the results in The Lancet Rheumatology.
- A 12-month course of abatacept led high-risk participants to develop rheumatoid arthritis much later than those on placebo, with onset delayed by up to four years beyond treatment.
- The biologic therapy targets immune cell activation and eased joint pain and fatigue during the at‑risk phase, though symptoms aligned between groups after treatment stopped.
- Benefits were strongest in individuals at highest risk identified by autoantibody testing, and safety was comparable to placebo with no new concerns.
- Researchers and Arthritis UK said the findings support earlier identification and targeted short‑course intervention, with further studies needed to define preventive use.