Protein Therapeutics Inc.

A major problem in treating rheumatoid arthritis is that current drugs cause numerous, often serious, side effects. Protein Therapeutics Inc. has developed an oral formulation of human gammaglobulin (hIgG) that, the company claims, may effectively treat rheumatoid arthritis without side effects. In addition, hIgG appears to act at the initiation site of the disease, as opposed to simply suppressing disease-related symptoms as several currently prescribed drugs do, says the company's founder and president, Leon E. Barstow, PhD.

Research suggests rheumatoid arthritis may be an autoimmune response activated by superantigens that overstimulate the immune system. Gammaglobulin contains antibodies...