RA is an autoimmune disease of which the pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. Generally, RA primarily affects joints, resulting in pain and degeneration. There are also other cases where RA affects organs other than joints, such as heart, liver, or veins.

According to statistics, nearly 50 million people suffer from RA. Moreover, RA leads to disability in 20 million people. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are applied predominantly in combination with steroids for current treatment of RA patients. Immunosuppressive agents are also used for RA.

Due to side effects and lack of efficacy of the traditional medications for RA, new drugs with other mechanisms are developed. Anti-inflammatory treatment inhibiting Tumor Necrosis Factor-a (TNF-a) is developed as a new generation of RA drugs.

This mechanism can significantly reduce side effects, relieve pain, and prevent joint degenerations when applied to RA. However, the high cost is still the main issue that limits its clinical use. On the other hand, most TNF-α agents are developed as injectables, which cause great inconvenience for RA patients. The global market for RA medications reached US$ 16 billion in 2008, which was estimated to exceed US$ 23 billion in 2015. RA medication is indicated as a high growth market.

BLI-1007 is a pure natural compound, which can be manufactured with high purity.

BLI-1007 can be administered orally at low doses.

Animal studies showed that BLI-1007 evidently inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, which effectively prevent and relieve symptoms of arthritis.