Eighty million Americans have an autoimmune disease. Most such diseases are lifelong and often debilitating. They have no cure, and treating them is estimated to cost more than $100 billion annually, not counting lost productivity. Until recently, prediction and screening haven’t been a focus for these diseases because we had no way to slow or prevent them. But late last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a therapy that could shift the paradigm of how we treat these diseases to earlier intervention—and ultimately, prevention.
The first revolution in autoimmune disease treatment was the transition from treating symptoms to treating the underlying cause: the immune system attacking “self.” Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis are all routinely treated with immunotherapy. These therapies are not curative but have improved the quality of life for those with these diseases.
Now, another paradigm shift is underway. In type 1 ...
