Drug targets multiple autoimmune diseases

Can the same medication treat type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Quite possibly, say scientists at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.

all three conditions are caused by the body’s immune system attacking and damaging its own cells.

now experiments on tissue samples from people with the conditions have shown a gene called TYK2 is key to the damage, the journal Science advances reports.

This means existing drugs for one condition might help the others. ‘Characterising the similarities and differences between auto-immune diseases has the potential to transform the way we treat and cure these diseases,’ the scientists said.