“How our immune system distinguishes ‘self’ from ‘non-self’ is intriguing,” said Jan de Vries, Disease Area Head for Autoimmunity and Transplantation. Normally, antigens derived from our own tissues, called self antigens, are ignored, while foreign, or non-self antigens, elicit a robust immune response that protects us from infection, but also rejects organ transplants. When our immune system mistakes a self antigen for a foreign antigen, we develop aberrant immune responses that result in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and others.
Current general immunosuppressive drugs, including Novartis’ cyclosporine, have made organ transplantation routine and are effective in treating severe autoimmune diseases. But they can cause serious side effects, so their use must be carefully monitored. “We’re developing new drug candidates that downregulate aberrant immune responses in a more specific way, so we expect fewer side effects,” said Jan. His group is also looking for and evaluating new drug targets. “We’re working with translational medicine to design ‘Proof-of-Concept’, or PoC, studies in man to determine if our drugs work the way we think they should, which will help us decide earlier whether to continue or discontinue development,” said Jan.
Jan believes that research-driven PoC studies as a goal for drug development programs is an improvement over the old system. “History teaches us that progress occurs when people are innovative,” said Jan, who reads about the Renaissance for enjoyment. He admires Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536), a humanist, priest, Renaissance scholar and fellow Dutchman. “Though he remained a priest, Erasmus satirized clerical abuse and superstitious beliefs of the people and was eager for church reform,” said Jan. His writings were influential because he dared to question long standing beliefs and practices. “That also applies to science,” said Jan, “we need to be innovative to discover and develop new medicines and I think we’re moving in that direction.”
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