Ken Thompson has psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and found himself to be non-responsive to current biological treatments.
The next step for Ken? To join a clinical trial.
Mr Thompson was referred to the research team at NDORMS running Future 5, a two-year trial looking at a new treatment targeting the inflammatory molecule IL-17a. The treatment is known to be effective in other conditions and the drug form is used in skin psoriasis, but the leap to PsA is yet to be made.
PsA causes inflammation in and around the joints, leading to swelling, stiffness and pain in and around the joints, as well as nail changes and overall fatigue.
With current treatments not working for him, Mr Thompson joined the trial and has been so pleased with the level of care that he decided to give the team a hand and fundraise to support the research of Professor Paul Bowness, lead investigator of Future 5.
No stranger to fundraising, Mr Thompson regularly organises events at the pub he runs, the White Horse in Banbury, on behalf of different charities and causes.
"After being a none responder to previous treatments and feeling quite down, it was a breath of fresh air to meet the research team and to help with this programme and over the last 12 months become friends rather than just medical associates. I feel very lucky", said Mr Thompson.
Professor Bowness was really appreciative of the donation: "We are delighted to have engaged patients who want to get involved in research. Mr Thompson's generous donation to our research will contribute to developing new treatments in the longer term".
The Future 5 team is looking not only at optimising the therapy for PsA, but also understanding what is behind its efficacy and identify patients who would benefit most from the new approach.
