The 27th Annual Congress of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR 2025) was held in Fukuoka, Japan. This event serves as a key platform for sharing cutting-edge research and clinical experience. For the second consecutive year, the R-Pharm Group of Companies partnered with the forum, which brought together over 2,500 specialists from 60 countries.
During the Congress, Russian specialists presented 14 poster reports on studies of the company’s innovative products, including data on olokizumab for rheumatoid arthritis and goflicicept, a new IL-1 inhibitor for the treatment of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis. R-Pharm also held a satellite symposium on expanding treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis with the participation of leading global rheumatologists.
President of the European League Against Rheumatism (2010) and Emeritus Professor of the Vienna Medical University, Josef Smolen (Austria), highlighted the persistent unmet needs in rheumatoid arthritis therapy and emphasized the necessity for new treatment options.
Professor Kunihiro Yamaoka from Kitasato University (Japan) discussed the position of olokizumab among IL-6 inhibitors, focusing on its mechanism of action, results from the clinical program, and safety data in the Asian population.
Emeritus Professor Roy Fleischmann of the University of Texas (USA) presented an overview of post-marketing studies of olokizumab conducted by Russian specialists, noting their significance as an important addition to randomized clinical trials.
During the discussion, experts and participants emphasized the importance of real-world clinical practice data for medical decision-making. All speakers agreed that olokizumab is a promising therapeutic solution for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, including those in Asian countries.
“APLAR Congress plays a key role in shaping the international agenda in rheumatology. For us, it is an opportunity to exchange experience with leading experts from different countries, including Asia, where the problem of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases is particularly relevant. We are convinced that developing cooperation in science and clinical practice promotes the wider adoption of innovative solutions and the formation of new approaches to therapy,” said Mikhail Samsonov, Medical Director of R-Pharm.
About olokizumab
Olokizumab (TN Artlegia) is the world’s first monoclonal antibody registered for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with a unique mechanism of action characterized by the direct blockade of IL-6. The drug is approved by the regulators of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Republic of Belarus. In Russia, it is included in the clinical guidelines for “Rheumatoid Arthritis,” the Standards of Medical Care for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the Vital and Essential Drugs list (VED).
About goflikicept
Goflikicept (TN Arcerix) is a hybrid protein, a heterodimer that binds proinflammatory cytokines of the interleukin-1 family and blocks their action. It was developed to treat diseases in the pathogenesis of which IL-1 plays a key role, including orphan diseases such as idiopathic recurrent pericarditis, as well as for the therapy of conditions characterized by systemic inflammation. In Russia, it is registered for the indication of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis, and included in the clinical guidelines of the Russian Ministry of Health for the treatment of pericarditis, as well as in the clinical guidance of the American College of Cardiology on pericarditis. The drug is recommended for inclusion in the VED list. Goflikicept is under patent protection in 59 countries around the world.
About APLAR
Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR, www.aplar.org) was established in Sydney in 1963. It includes 33 national rheumatology associations and over 25,000 specialists.