New Myositis Treatments Being Tested

Several studies for patients with polymyositis, dermatomyositis or inclusion-body myositis are being sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md., as well as medical centers and pharmaceutical companies. Drugs based on antibodies (immune system proteins) that block inflammation-causing substances are under study in all three types of myositis. In addition, a study of twins or sibling pairs in which one person has myositis and the other does not, and a comparison of the blood components of people affected and unaffected by myositis, seek to improve understanding of these disorders.

See www.clinicaltrials.gov and enter “myositis” in the search box; or contact the NIH Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office at (800) 411-1222 or prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov.