Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative Review

Current therapies for Graves’ disease (GD) primarily aim to manage hyperthyroidism through synthetic antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, or surgery. However, these approaches are often limited by their incomplete efficacy and the risk of inducing hypothyroidism. The latest advances in understanding the...

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Main Authors: Nicola Viola, Alessandro Colleo, Mauro Casula, Chiara Mura, Francesco Boi, Giulia Lanzolla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/3/500
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author Nicola Viola
Alessandro Colleo
Mauro Casula
Chiara Mura
Francesco Boi
Giulia Lanzolla
author_facet Nicola Viola
Alessandro Colleo
Mauro Casula
Chiara Mura
Francesco Boi
Giulia Lanzolla
author_sort Nicola Viola
collection DOAJ
description Current therapies for Graves’ disease (GD) primarily aim to manage hyperthyroidism through synthetic antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, or surgery. However, these approaches are often limited by their incomplete efficacy and the risk of inducing hypothyroidism. The latest advances in understanding the autoimmune mechanisms driving GD have paved the way for novel therapies targeting the thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) or immune pathways. Overall, key targets include cluster of differentiation 20 (CD20), cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40), protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), B cell-activating factor (BAFF), and the Fc receptor-like protein 3 (FcRL3). Recent preclinical studies and clinical trials testing targeted therapies have shown promising results in terms of efficacy and safety. Here, we present a narrative review of the literature on emerging therapeutic approaches for GD that are currently under investigation.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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series Medicina
spelling doaj-art-790133d6185b4a3da989f5d54ff94dec2025-08-20T02:42:22ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-03-0161350010.3390/medicina61030500Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative ReviewNicola Viola0Alessandro Colleo1Mauro Casula2Chiara Mura3Francesco Boi4Giulia Lanzolla5Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, University Hospital of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyEndocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyEndocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, University Hospital of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyEndocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyEndocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyEndocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyCurrent therapies for Graves’ disease (GD) primarily aim to manage hyperthyroidism through synthetic antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, or surgery. However, these approaches are often limited by their incomplete efficacy and the risk of inducing hypothyroidism. The latest advances in understanding the autoimmune mechanisms driving GD have paved the way for novel therapies targeting the thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) or immune pathways. Overall, key targets include cluster of differentiation 20 (CD20), cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40), protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), B cell-activating factor (BAFF), and the Fc receptor-like protein 3 (FcRL3). Recent preclinical studies and clinical trials testing targeted therapies have shown promising results in terms of efficacy and safety. Here, we present a narrative review of the literature on emerging therapeutic approaches for GD that are currently under investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/3/500Graves’ diseasethyroid autoimmunitythyroid diseaseshyperthyroidismtargeted therapy
spellingShingle Nicola Viola
Alessandro Colleo
Mauro Casula
Chiara Mura
Francesco Boi
Giulia Lanzolla
Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative Review
Medicina
Graves’ disease
thyroid autoimmunity
thyroid diseases
hyperthyroidism
targeted therapy
title Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative Review
title_full Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative Review
title_fullStr Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative Review
title_full_unstemmed Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative Review
title_short Graves’ Disease: Is It Time for Targeted Therapy? A Narrative Review
title_sort graves disease is it time for targeted therapy a narrative review
topic Graves’ disease
thyroid autoimmunity
thyroid diseases
hyperthyroidism
targeted therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/3/500
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AT chiaramura gravesdiseaseisittimefortargetedtherapyanarrativereview
AT francescoboi gravesdiseaseisittimefortargetedtherapyanarrativereview
AT giulialanzolla gravesdiseaseisittimefortargetedtherapyanarrativereview