Gout is often dismissed as a simple consequence of diet or just a sudden pain in the big toe. However, this common image hides a chronic condition that can quietly damage the body even when a person is not experiencing a painful flare.
In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Soumya Shashikumar speaks with James Mackay, CEO of Crystalys Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company conducting research in gout.
James notes that while many blame lifestyle choices, the main reason patients develop gout is that their bodies cannot clear enough uric acid through the kidneys. Because uric acid crystals can build up silently in the joints and elsewhere in the body for years, the disease remains active even when symptoms are not visible.
The conversation also explores a treatment paradox. When patients first start medication to lower their uric acid, it can trigger more flares as uric acid deposits begin to shift and break down. Without proper education, many patients stop treatment because they believe it is making them worse.
The episode also considers how researchers are looking beyond reductions in uric acid levels to track improvements patients can see and feel, such as fewer flares and reductions in tophi, the painful and sometimes disfiguring deposits of uric acid that form around the joints.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about the stigma surrounding gout, the challenges of staying on long-term treatment and how new research is aiming to provide better options for a condition that James says affects nearly 15 million people in the US.
The weekly podcast is available for streaming every other Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you stream your podcasts.
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