Proteins derived from honeybee venom can help people who suffer from
rheumatoid arthritis, claims Pan Pacific Pharmaceuticals of Menlo Park in
California (GB 2 341 389). In people with arthritis, the immune system
mistakenly perceives joint tissue as foreign, provoking an immune response that
causes chronic inflammation. Immunosuppressive drugs cause side effects such as
susceptibility to infection. PPP鈥檚 patent claims that polypeptides in honeybee
venom alleviate the condition when injected into joints.
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