Abstract: An antibody antagonist of GM-CSF for use in the treatment of a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), wherein said antibody is administered to said patient according to the following treatment regimen: i. a first period wherein the antibody is administered once a week; and ii. a second period wherein the antibody is administered every other week and then ceased once said patient has sustained remission for a continuous period of at least two months.

Abstract: An antibody antagonist of GM-CSF for use in the treatment of a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), wherein said antibody is administered to said patient according to the following treatment regimen: i. a first period wherein the antibody is administered once a week; and ii. a second period wherein the antibody is administered every other week and then ceased once said patient has sustained remission for a continuous period of at least two months.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in a subject comprising the steps of determining in a biological sample from said subject the number and/or frequency of dominant BCR clones, and determining the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis based on said number of dominant BCR clones, wherein an increase of said number of dominant BCR clones and/or a higher frequency of at least one dominant BCR clone compared to a healthy control indicates an increased risk. In a preferred embodiment, said increased risk is indicated when at least 0.5% of the total number of BCR clones is a dominant BCR clone.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of andeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene therapy, in particular to the use of a combination of recombinant AAV-transgene vectors with an immunosuppressant and/or empty-AAV capsids. The invention further provides a composition and a kit of parts based on this combination.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for predicting a clinical response to B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapies (BCIDT) using expression levels of genes of the Type I INF pathway. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a treatment with B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene therapy, in particular in vivo gene therapy, of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The invention provides recombinant AAV virions being highly efficient in delivering genes encoding therapeutic proteins to the arthritic joints, and method for using such virions in in vivo gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for predicting a clinical response to B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapies (BCIDT) using expression levels of genes of the Type I INF pathway. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a treatment with B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapy.

Abstract: Methods for delivering nucleic acid molecules into cells and methods for measuring nucleic acid delivery into cells and the expression of the nucleic acids are provided. The methods are designed for introduction of large nucleic acid molecules, including artificial chromosomes, into cells, and are practiced in vitro and in vivo.