World Arthritis Day: 12 October 2011
News
The European Medicines Agency supports World Arthritis Day, which is taking place on Wednesday 12 October 2011.
World Arthritis Day is held each year on 12 October and is dedicated to raising awareness of diseases affecting the joints, muscles and skeleton, influencing public policy and ensuring all people with these diseases and their caregivers are aware of the vast support network available to them. In 2011, the day's theme is 'move to improve'.
The Agency plays an important role in the authorisation of medicines to treat these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammation of the joints caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissue.
In the European Union (EU) all medicines for rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues must be authorised via the Agency, rather than in each Member State individually. To date, 18 medicines for patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been authorised on the recommendation of the Agency.
The Agency also organises regular events and meetings, many of which cover issues related to arthritis, as well as providing guidance for companies developing medicines for the treatment and diagnosis of these conditions.