PREDICTIVE miRNA BIOMARKER FOR NON-RESPONSE TO ANTI-TNF THERAPY IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Description

This invention relates to a plasma based microRNA (miRNA) biomarker that enables the prediction of non response to anti TNF therapies in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) prior to treatment initiation.
Although TNF inhibitors represent a major therapeutic milestone in RA, 20–40?% of patients fail to achieve clinical remission, leading to unnecessary toxicity and increased healthcare costs.
The technology is based on the identification of differential miRNA expression profiles using miRNA sequencing, followed by RT qPCR validation, resulting in the identification of a specific miRNA whose elevated baseline expression is independently associated with lack of clinical response at week 24.
This approach supports personalized treatment decision making in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Advantages

• Enables early prediction of non response to anti TNF therapies.
• Reduces exposure to ineffective treatments and associated adverse effects.
• Minimally invasive, based on plasma samples.
• Robust validation adjusted for clinical and inflammatory variables.
• Strong potential as a companion diagnostic test for biologic therapies.

Uses and Applications

• Predictive diagnostics in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• Support for personalized therapeutic selection in rheumatology.
• Development of companion diagnostics linked to biologic drugs.
• Application in hospitals, clinical laboratories and in vitro diagnostics companies.

Keywords

Sectors

Areas

Applicants

UNIVERSIDAD DE MÁLAGA, SERVICIO ANDALUZ DE SALUD (SAS)

Inventors

ARKAITZ MUCIENTES RUIZ, ANTONIO FERNANDEZ NEBRO, NATALIA MENA VÁZQUEZ, SARA MANRIQUE ARIJA, PATRICIA RUIZ LIMÓN, JOSÉ MANUEL LISBONA MONTAÑEZ, AIMARA GARCÍA STUDER, FERNANDO ORTIZ MÁRQUEZ

Filing Date

26/02/2026 

Protection Level: National (Spain)

Processing Status: Spanish protection application