Benzinga | Nov 1, 2021 10:02AM EDT

Horizon Therapeutics Highlights Data Being Presented At American College Of Rheumatology Convergence 2021; Says Data Shows Co's Commitment To Improving Outcomes For People Living With Uncontrolled Gout

Horizon Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:HZNP) today announced presentations on results from a new survey of practicing rheumatologists suggesting the presence of negative gout stigma surrounding causality and management of gout. In addition, the largest in-practice analysis to-date showing the use of KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase injection) with immunomodulation may impact treatment response rates for people living with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapies, also known as uncontrolled gout will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2021, Nov. 5-9, 2021.

Key gout presentations include:

Gout Stigma: Investigating the Existence of Gout Stigma and Its Impact on Patient Perceptions and Treatment Decisions. Results from a new online survey of 106 practicing rheumatologists show how a perceived stigma associated with gout can influence physicians' perceptions of patient illness and their resulting treatment decisions. Rheumatologists were surveyed on their perceptions, experiences and recommendations for patients with controlled gout, uncontrolled gout and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Key findings include:

* A higher level of personal responsibility was perceived for gout than for RA, and patients with gout were thought to be less likely to comply with prescribed treatment regimens.

* Patient personal behavior, diet, body mass index (BMI) and lack of treatment adherence were perceived as greater contributing factors to disease in gout patients than in RA patients (p<0.01).

* Change in diet, increased exercise and weight loss were perceived as more beneficial for managing gout than for managing RA (p<0.01), with biological pharmacological treatment perceived as less beneficial to patients with gout than to those with RA.

"Based on these survey results, despite good intentions, rheumatologists' causal beliefs and illness perceptions of gout reflect pervasive negative stereotypes, which have critical implications for how physicians interact with patients," said N. Lawrence Edwards, M.D., lead author on the study and professor of medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology at the University of Florida in Gainesville and chairman of the Gout Education Society. "Education on the stigma surrounding gout, even among rheumatology specialists, is crucial to reinforce the serious and systemic impact of this disease, and the long-term consequences if not properly treated. By recognizing and addressing the potential bias in gout treatment decisions, we can improve clinical care and, subsequently, patient outcomes."