Health Day reports on an investigational drug that may hit the reset button on a faulty immune system for some people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The drug, peresolimab, is a monoclonal antibody that stimulates human programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), which serves as the brakes on the immune system. Research found that study participants who took the drug, for 12 weeks had significantly less joint pain, swelling, tenderness and inflammation. 

Further research will be needed before the drug could be approved as a treatment for RA

"It's a very interesting approach -- I am excited to see what comes up in a bigger trial," said Anne R. Bass, MD, rheumatologist at HSS, who has no ties to the new research.

Read the full article at consumer.healthday.com.