New partnership to improve treatment outcomes for children with arthritis

It is vital that we all work to improve clinical practice and treatment outcomes for the 15,000 children under the age of 16 who have juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the UK. Biologics and biosimilars are routinely prescribed for the condition, and although these treatments have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials, not much was known about how well they worked when used for a prolonged period of time, and if there were any long-term effects from these therapies.

Therefore, we’re delighted to announce a new partnership with the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) to fund the UK JIA Biologics Register. This important research will continue to further our understanding of JIA, and in turn, improve the lives of children and young people living with the condition.

Versus Arthritis and the BSR were already carrying out independent studies (The Biologics for Children with Rheumatic Diseases (BCRD) study funded by Versus Arthritis, and the Etanercept study (BSPAR ETN) funded by the BSR) at hospitals throughout the UK, to look at the safety and effectiveness of biologic and biosimilar treatment for JIA.

This new partnership will bring these two studies together as the UK JIA Biologics Register, which will be the world's largest group of children and young people involved in research about JIA.

How you can help

If you work directly with children and young people with JIA, and they meet the criteria to be involved in the study, please do let them know about this research opportunity. More details can be found on the University of Manchester website.

Read more about this new partnership, including what has already been achieved, but also including a look to the future.