Researchers at Swansea University have suggested that a medication commonly used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes may also be effective for treating autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Canagliflozin, or Invokana, is known to target T-cells, which are an essential part of the immune system that can attack healthy tissues in autoimmune diseases. It lowers blood sugar levels, but also reduces T-cell activation, potentially qualifying it for development as a repurposed treatment for T-cell driven autoimmune disorders. Invokana has a well-established safety profile, which may enable it to enter clinical trials faster than newly developed drugs.
