Professor RanJeny’s Story
A new curative therapy with the promise of drug free disease remission would be a game changer in the treatment of RA, and Professor Ranjeny Thomas AM and her team are getting closer to that goal.
A rheumatologist and researcher at the University of Queensland, Professor Thomas has produced an Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance Immunotherapy (ASITI) and companion blood tests.
ASITI-301 comprises tiny lipid particles containing an immune-modulatory drug, vitamin D, and an RA-associated peptide antigen. It is designed to target the dysregulated immune system that underlies autoimmunity in RA.
‘We have completed a phase 1 single-dose trial of ASITI-201 tailored for autoimmune diabetes in adults with type 1 diabetes.
Excitingly, ASITI-201 was safe and well tolerated at all doses, and 2 doses were chosen to progress to multiple dosing, which is ongoing in 2026,’ she said.
‘We anticipate manufacturing the clinical batch of ASITI-301 in July to be ready to start our first clinical trials in RA at the beginning of 2027.’
The first trials will examine the safety and immune response to ASITI in patients with treated recent-onset RA.
For more information visit: arthritisaustralia.com.au/reset-ra/
Lifestyle intervention
With essential exercise, healthy eating, not smoking and emotional wellbeing so important to people with arthritis, Prof. Thomas and her team are also running a healthy lifestyle trial in recent-onset RA: Resilience And Healthy Lifestyle for RA.
The trial is delivered by researchers with expertise in rheumatology, psychology, exercise training, nutrition and smoking cessation in the self-management of RA.
The trial is recruiting fast from south-east Queensland and northern NSW. To book your place, visit: Healthy lifestyle for rheumatoid arthritis – Partners and community – The University of Queensland.
Thank you for supporting this important research which could transform care for people living with rheumatoid arthritis.
To donate to this research program, call 1300 875 236 or visit: arthritis.org.au.
