Rheumatism 'not a major disease,' states Commission
was not recognised as a major disease group in its research and
biomedical programme - an outrage, according to The European League
against Rheumatism (EULAR).
According to EULAR, around one per cent of the EU population - about four million people - suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, while osteoporosis affects approximately ten per cent of the EU population.
Current treatments for osteoporosis consist of oestrogens, calcium, and vitamin D, in addition to new types of treatment. Of these new types, the bisphosphonates have become one of the most successful modern treatments, expanding from launch 1995 to 33 million prescriptions in 2004.
Josef Smolen, a rheumatologist and President of EULAR, said that he regretted the Commission's choice not to specify rheumatism as a major research topic and had not included it in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) proposals. He was speaking at the EULAR conference in Vienna, Austria.
"The EU is letting down more than 100 million European rheumatism patients," stated Professor Smolen. "This dismissal of the legitimate concerns of many of these citizens is irritating to say the least."
According to Professor Smolen, all the research that has been achieved in drug treatments for rheumatism could be jeopardised as this latest move by the Commission threatens to take the spotlight away from this disease.
"One can only hope that the industry does not lose its interest in further, very costly innovations due to a lack of research initiative from EU authorities," he said.
Such is the impact of rheumatism in the developed world, it has been estimated that 2.5 million full-time employees per year cannot hold their jobs due to rheumatism. According to the European Commission, this leads to a 0.2 to 2 per cent loss in gross national product.
He welcomed a draft declaration, backing EULAR concerns, which is currently being discussed in the European Parliament.
The Parliament's draft declaration requests the inclusion of rheumatism in the priorities of FP7 and the new EU Health Strategy; the strengthening of the anti-discrimination law for disability through a new, separate EU directive, and improved access for rheumatism patients to all therapeutic options throughout the entire EU.
