Novel glucocorticoids: current status and challenges

Abstract Patients and physicians eagerly await the day when the adverse effects of glucocorticoids will no longer be considered a “necessary evil” in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Research on novel GR ligands and combination therapies may bring us closer to this goal. We review the current status of novel approaches in rheumatology to reduce glucocorticoid toxicity, including the development of selective GR agonists and modulators (SEGRAMs), targeted delivery of glucocorticoid receptor ligands, and combination therapy of prednisone with an 11beta-HSD-1 inhibitor. We also describe advances in optimizing glucocorticoid use to achieve an optimal benefit-risk ratio when conventional glucocorticoids are necessary. A priority in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases must be to avoid the use of glucocorticoids whenever possible and to use the lowest effective dose when there is no alternative. In this regard, we emphasize glucocorticoid-sparing concepts, for which new options have emerged in recent years. It is also important that glucocorticoid toxicity is carefully and fully documented in both clinical trials and practice in order to justify the development and use of alternative drugs that truly avoid glucocorticoid toxicity. Although we have made good progress in recent years toward the optimal use of glucocorticoids, there is still much to be done.