R348 - dry eye / sjogrens

• Sjögren’s syndrome, or dry eye, is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the lacrimal glands of the eye.


• Sjögren’s is the second most common autoimmune disease after rheumatoid arthritis, with approximately 4 million people affected in the US.


• 90% of the cases are female. The average age of diagnosis is late 40s.


• Approximately 1/4 of RA and systemic lupus patients also suffer from Sjögren’s.


• Current treatments include artificial tears as a first line option, then Restasis™ (cyclosporine ophthalmic), an immunosuppressive agent indicated to increase tear production, and subsequently systemic treatments (ie. methotrexate, biologicals).

• Rigel Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2011 Financial Results

Disease background
Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which people’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands. Today, as many as four million Americans are living with this disease.

About 30 - 50% of the time Sjögren’s syndrome occurs alone. The other portion occurs in the presence of another autoimmune connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. When Sjögren’s occurs alone, it is referred to as “Primary Sjögren’s.” When it occurs with another connective tissue disease, it is referred to as “Secondary Sjögren’s.”

• The Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation