Related Articles Results

Friday Apr 09, 2010
Vaccine Successfully Reverse Type 1 Diabetes in Mice
Researchers believe the vaccine may be applicable to other autoimmune disease, such as RA and MS...

Wednesday Apr 07, 2010
Pfizer Predicts "Golden Age of Drug Discovery"
Pfizer is working on drugs to treat pain, inflammation, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease, some of which they predict will be mega sellers...

Tuesday Apr 06, 2010
Long-Term Methotrexate Use Does Not Reduce Relapse Rates for Juvenile Arthritis
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis do not have their relapse rates reduced by a longer treatment course with the drug methotrexate...

Friday Apr 02, 2010
Spotlight on Sjögren's Syndrome
As many as 4 million Americans are affected by the autoimmune disorder, but most suffer from symptoms for 3 or more years before receiving an accurate diagnosis...

Wednesday Mar 31, 2010
Fibromyalgia Symptoms May be Alleviated by Short Bursts of Physical Activity
Lifestyle physical activity intervention may reduce fibromyalgia symptoms and improve physical function...

Monday Mar 15, 2010
Roche Suspends Experimental Arthritis Drug Study
Risks were found to outweigh potential benefits in the study of ocrelizumab after cases of serious infections led to several deaths...

Wednesday Mar 03, 2010
Patients Speak Out About the Pain of Fibromyalgia
Sometimes the best way to learn about a disease is to listen to the patients who suffer from it...

Thursday Feb 25, 2010
Physical Inactivity and Obesity Raises Arthritis Risk, Especially in Women
Arthritis rates are higher in the US than in Canada, according to a new study...

Monday Feb 01, 2010
CP-690,550, Pfizer's Oral JAK Inhibitor, Demonstrates Response in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis
Pfizer’s oral JAK Inhibitor CP-690,550 shows efficacy at improving the pain, function, and health status of RA patients...

Wednesday Jan 27, 2010
RA Development Can Be Predicted by Inflammatory Cytokines
Increased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines can predict onset of RA before symptoms develop...

Tuesday Jan 26, 2010
FDA Approves Tocilizumab for Refractory RA
Tocilizumab (Actemra) has been approved for adults with moderate-to-severe RA who have not achieved adequate response with other TNF therapies...

Thursday Dec 03, 2009
In the News This Week
Read what MSKreport has been tweeting about this week...

Wednesday Dec 02, 2009
OxyPharma's New RA Drug Shows Positive Phase II Results
Rabeximod, an orally-administered DMARD, showed promise as a new RA treatment during a 16-week study...

Tuesday Nov 24, 2009
Fatigue Is Valid Marker of RA Treatment Response
Single-item measures of fatigue are reliable and sensitive to change in RA patients taking TNF-blockers...

Thursday Nov 19, 2009
French Government Buys Into Naproxinod
NicOx has submitted an NDA for naproxinod for osteoarthritis, and is raising $149 million for the launch...

Tuesday Nov 17, 2009
Inflammation in RA Linked to Arterial Stiffness
RA patients with high inflammatory burden are more likely to have arterial stiffness, even without other known cardiovascular risk factors...

Thursday Nov 12, 2009
Bristol Set to Challenge Roche for RA IL-6 Blockers
Bristol-Myers Squibb has licensed RA indications for Alder's ALD518 anti-IL-6 monoclonal...

Thursday Nov 12, 2009
TNF Inhibitors Do Not Raise Cancer Risk
No increased cancer risk was seen during the first 6 years of anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis...

Wednesday Nov 11, 2009
Cooling RA Skin May Slightly Shift Doppler US
Cooling (but not warming) the skin has a modest effect on ultrasound Doppler measurements in RA...

Tuesday Nov 03, 2009
Naproxen/Nexium Combo Prevents Ulcers in OA Patients
Combining naproxen esomeprazole magnesium relieves OA pain while protecting the stomach...

Thursday Oct 29, 2009
Uncertain Future for Schering RA Nose Spray
Intranasal immunotherapy with HC gp-39 was safe but produced no clinical benefits in a randomized, placebo-controlled phase II study in RA patients...

Thursday Oct 29, 2009
Bug Spray Linked to RA, Lupus
Startling new data from ACR suggest that household insecticide use increases women's risk of two autoimmune diseases...

Wednesday Oct 28, 2009
Third RA Patient Has PML After Rituximab
The FDA's MedWatch warning system reports that a third rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient treated with Genentech's Rituxan (rituximab) has developed PML, this time without prior anti-TNF exposure...

Thursday Oct 22, 2009
For Early RA, Start with Six Months of MTX, then Add Two More DMARDs
ACR researchers report that initial treatment with methotrexate followed by step-up to two more DMARDs if needed at 6 months is as good as adding a TNF inhibitor...

Thursday Oct 22, 2009
Water, Skim Milk May Stave Off Gout Attacks
Encouraging gouty arthritis patients to drink more water and/or skim milk may lead to fewer gout attacks...

Wednesday Oct 21, 2009
Phase 2 Data Support Pfizer's JAK Inhibitor for RA
Two Phase 2 trials reported at ACR show efficacy of JAK inhibitor now in Phase 3...

Tuesday Oct 20, 2009
Infliximab Plus MTX for JIA
Infliximab plus methotrexate (MTX) bests combinations of traditional disease modifying drugs and/or MTX alone for the treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis...

Monday Oct 19, 2009
Experts Call for Early Intervention with Hip Scopes
As presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy, earlier intervention is better when it comes to joint-sparing hip operations...

Friday Oct 16, 2009
EMG Finds “High Risk” Zone for ACL Tears in Female Athletes
Reduced semitendinosus (ST) and elevated vastus lateralis (VL) activity increase the risk of ACL tear—and taking bits from the ST for ACL repair is probably a mistake...

Thursday Oct 15, 2009
To Scope or Not to Scope in Hip Patients Over 60
Hip arthroscopy may benefit some patients aged 60 and older with femoroacetebular impingement...

Tuesday Oct 13, 2009
Protalix Reports First Data on Generic Enbrel™
Plant cell fusion protein would be first “biosimilar” version of etanercept...

Wednesday Oct 07, 2009
Can Surgical Masks Protect You From Flu? Maybe
Surgical masks are nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza in health care workers...

Wednesday Oct 07, 2009
TNF Blockade in SLE? The Plot Thickens
Brief therapy with 4 infusions of infliximab plus azathioprine produces relatively safe, durable improvements in refractory lupus nephritis...

Tuesday Oct 06, 2009
Simponi Scores EU OK for RA, PsA, AS
Simponi (golimumab) anti-TNF is the first monthly anti-TNF injectable to gain broad EU approval...

Friday Oct 02, 2009
NicOx Files Naproxcinod NDA, the first CINOD for OA
NicOx has filed an NDA for naproxcinod, the first in the new class of cyclooxygenase-inhibiting nitric oxid donators (CINODs) for OA treatment...

Thursday Oct 01, 2009
MRI Can Show Joint Damage in Early Gout
For patients with gout but normal plain radiographs, MRI is more sensitive than ultrasound for detecting early gout, but what to do with that information is unclear...

Tuesday Sep 29, 2009
Fibromyalgia Goes Legit
Better understanding of the brain chemistry anomalies in fibromyalgia have paved the way toward more effective treatments for this pain disorder...

Thursday Sep 24, 2009
Rituximab Improves SSc Lung Function
A small pilot study has established proof-of-principle that rituximab improves lung function in scleroderma...

Tuesday Sep 22, 2009
RA Gets Worse if Spouse is Depressed
Spousal depression can affect the health and functioning of a rheumatoid arthritis patient...

Monday Sep 21, 2009
RA Gene Screening Almost Ready for Primetime
Genetic screening for rheumatoid arthritis risk is not yet clinically useful, but combining five confirmed RA loci may provide an accurate predictive test...

Thursday Sep 17, 2009
Lilly's Cymbalta Maintains Low Back Pain Relief
Data reported at a European pain meeting show that Cymbalta^® (duloxetine) maintains relief of low back pain for 41 weeks...

Wednesday Sep 16, 2009
Thunder God Vine Trounces Sulfasalazine in RA
An extract of the traditional Chinese medicinal vine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) was better than sulfasalazine for treating rheumatoid arthritis...

Tuesday Sep 15, 2009
Neuro Exams a Must for Fibromyalgia Patients
Fibromyalgia patients have neurological abnormalities that may correlate with objective FM exam findings and influence treatment decisions...

Thursday Sep 10, 2009
RA Vasculitis Now “A Vanishing Entity”
Both inpatient and outpatient cases of rheumatoid vasculitis began a steep decline at about the time biologicals and early, aggressive RA treatment became standard care...

Thursday Sep 10, 2009
Lodotra Delayed-Release Prednisone Aces Phase III
Nitec Pharma's Lodotra™ delayed-release prednisone met phase III efficacy endpoints. Nitec expects to file for FDA approval in RA...

Wednesday Sep 09, 2009
RA Joints Protected by More Fat, Less Adiponectin
Adiponectin is the link between fatness and lower joint damage in RA...

Tuesday Sep 08, 2009
RA Drug Array ARRY-162 Fails in Phase 2
A new rheumatoid drug from Array BioPharma that modulates the MEK pathway did not meet Phase 2 efficacy goals...

Thursday Sep 03, 2009
Depression, CRP Linked to Pain in RA
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are twice as likely to be depressed as people without this autoimmune disease, and now new research links RA pain to both depression severity and levels of C-reactive protein...

Tuesday Sep 01, 2009
Strong Thighs May Mean Less Knee Pain for Women
Stronger thigh muscles may help protect women—but not men—from the pain of arthritic knees...

Monday Aug 31, 2009
Blocking Syndecan-4: A New Way to Treat OA?
Blocking syndecan-4 may represent a whole new approach to treating osteoarthritis...

Thursday Aug 27, 2009
Lexicon Moves LX2931 Into RA Phase 2
Lexicon's LX2931 S1P lyase blocker is in Phase 2 trials in rheumatoid arthritis...

Tuesday Aug 18, 2009
CBT Helps OA Patients Get Their ZZZs
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help osteoarthritis (OA) patients sleep better and hurt less...

Wednesday Aug 12, 2009
So You Think You Can Dance After Hip Replacement? You Can!
Orthopaedic surgeons are realizing that patients are never too young or too old to undergo total hip arthroplasty...

Tuesday Aug 11, 2009
Untreated Depression May Dim RA TNF Inhibitor Response
Persistent depression affects RA patients' response to anti-TNF treatment...

Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
Psoriasis: Not Just Skin Deep
Mark G. Lebwohl, MD says psoriasis affects the heart and other vital organs, and treatment with TNF-blockers may reduce the risk of these comorbidities...

Monday Aug 03, 2009
R U Ready 4 Teens With Arthritis?
Teens with JIA are a challenge, and maintaining treatment response is likely to require different thinking by clinicians used to treating adults or children...

Friday Jul 31, 2009
Arthritis Patients Twice as Likely to Be Depressed, Suicidal
Rheumatologists should be on the lookout for depression and suicidal ideation among arthritis patients...

Wednesday Jul 29, 2009
TNF Inhibitors Have Different TB Risks
The risk of developing tuberculosis is 7 to 17 fold higher among patients receiving anti-TNF monoclonal antibody therapy than for those receiving soluble TNF receptors. How can you protect your patients?...

Tuesday Jul 28, 2009
Surprise: OA Not linked to Menopause
OA incidence rises with age in women, but not because of changes in female hormone levels...

Friday Jul 24, 2009
Most OA Responses to Coxibs Show In First 2 Weeks
If OA patients do not respond to NSAID treatment by 2 weeks, it might be time to try a different drug...

Thursday Jul 23, 2009
Gene Therapy Cleared in RA Patient Death
The vector used in an RA gene therapy study did not cause the death of a patient who died during the trial...

Friday Jul 17, 2009
Excess Weight Speeds Up Osteoarthritis
Being overweight can cause a rapid deterioration of knee cartilage, leading to the development of osteoarthritis...

Thursday Jul 16, 2009
Hand BMD Predicts RA Mortality
Hand bone mineral density measured by digital X-ray radiogrammetry may help doctors better predict risk of joint damage and mortality among individuals with RA...

Thursday Jul 16, 2009
Array BioPharma Stops Work on ARRY-797 Pan-Cytokine Inhibitor for RA Despite Good Early Data
The pan-cytokine inhibitor ARRY-797 was safe at doses of up to 1,200 mg/day in a phase 1 dose-escalation study in RA patients, but will not be developed further for use in RA...

Monday Jul 13, 2009
I-A Clodronate, HA Try to Beat Placebo for Knee OA
Intra-articular clodronate is as good as hyaluronic acid for knee OA, but placebo might be as good as either...

Wednesday Jul 08, 2009
Seniors Reap Durable Gains from Knee Replacement
Four-year follow-up data show that patients 65 and older derive important, lasting benefits from total knee arthroplasty...

Tuesday Jul 07, 2009
Quercetin Boosts Exercise Capacity
New research shows that quercetin supplementation boosts endurance and maximal oxygen capacity in healthy, active but untrained men and women...

Monday Jul 06, 2009
IOM's Puts Arthritis Biologics Near Top of List for Comparative Studies
The Institute of Medicine puts biologic anti-inflammatory drugs near the top of its recommended list for comparative effectiveness studies...

Thursday Jul 02, 2009
Lung Study Questions Leflunomide Safety in RA
Rheumatologists who routinely use leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis patients should be on the look-out for early signs of lung disease...

Wednesday Jul 01, 2009
Masitinib Pilot Study Shows Promise in DMARD-resistant RA
The first drug to target mast cells in RA shows promising early results in an uncontrolled phase 2a trial...

Friday Jun 26, 2009
Gum Disease Prominent in RA, but TNF-Blockade Can Help
Three new studies shed light on the connection between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis, and new data help define a role for TNF-blockade in improving periodontal status as well as RA signs and symptoms...

Thursday Jun 25, 2009
From Inflammation to Bone Formation in SpA
Clinical and animal data reported at EULAR suggest that both controlling inflammation and preventing new bone formation may be required to stop ankylosing spondylitis progression...

Wednesday Jun 24, 2009
RA Rituxan Response Seen Best with High Res US
High resolution grey-scale ultrasonography may help rheumatologists measure response to rituximab treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients...

Monday Jun 22, 2009
IL-Blockade with Canakinumab Effective, Safe in JIA
Phase II data show that canakinumab (ACZ885) seems effective and safe in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis...

Monday Jun 22, 2009
EULAR Studies Show New Picture of B-Cell Depletion in RA
A group of studies reported at EULAR show that B-cell depletion is a relatively safe and effective treatment option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Thursday Jun 18, 2009
Biogen Gets Joint Control of Genentech Post-Rituxan Development
Genentech must stop three drug development projects but can continue lupus and RA ocrelizumab studies....

Wednesday Jun 17, 2009
EULAR Report Shows Tocilizumab Protects Joints in RA
Actemra^® maintained structure and function in a wide range of RA patients in the LITHE study, with response durations of 2 years in interim analyses...

Tuesday Jun 16, 2009
Golimumab for Psoriatic Arthritis Still Effective at 2 Years
2-Year GO-REVEAL data show durable PsA response to golimumab...

Tuesday Jun 16, 2009
Infliximab Still Going Strong At 7 Years for RA Treatment
Infliximab efficacy and safety are maintained through at least 7 years of use for rheumatoid arthritis treatment...

Monday Jun 15, 2009
Waxman Wants to Let FDA OK Biosimilars Without Legal Authority
Rep. Henry Waxman asks White House to let FDA approve generic biologics...

Thursday Jun 11, 2009
RA Bone Changes May Offer New Treatment Target
Osteoporosis and erosions appear loosely linked in some RA patients...

Tuesday Jun 09, 2009
Medicare Part D “Tiering” May Reduce Access to RA Biologicals
The specialty tiering allowed in the Medicare Part D drug program is likely to impose a heavy financial burden on many RA patients who take—or should take—biologics...

Monday Jun 08, 2009
Tai Chi Prevents Disability in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
The ancient Chinese exercise practice of Tai Chi may decrease pain, prevent disability, and improve overall physical health and quality of life for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain...

Thursday Jun 04, 2009
Allopurinol Extends Gout Survival
Gout patients who take allopurinol live longer than those who do not, mostly due to decreased cardiovascular mortality...

Thursday May 28, 2009
Long-Term Steroids Safe in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Glucocorticoids are safe for medium- and long-term use in RA, as well as for treating flares, a meta-analysis says...

Friday May 22, 2009
Johnson & Johnson Wants Remicade Back
J&J is going to court to end its Remicade partnership with Schering-Plough due to a merger with Merck...

Thursday May 21, 2009
Chlamydia May Cause Most Undifferentiated Spondylarthritis
Nearly two-thirds of patients with undifferentiated spondylarthritis have chlamydia in synovial tissue biopsies...

Wednesday May 20, 2009
X-ray Stability Lags RA Remission by Months
Radiographic joint damage grinds to a halt only after at least 9 months of sustained disease remission...

Friday May 15, 2009
FDA Going Back for Second Look At Menaflex
The US FDA, responding to criticism about the Menaflex approval process, is planning to take another look...

Thursday May 14, 2009
FDA OKs UCB's Cimzia for Moderate to Severe RA
Cimzia^® (certolizumab pegol), the only pegylated anti-TNF, has been approved for use in the US...

Thursday May 14, 2009
Could a Urine Test Identify Early OA?
Separate sets of collagen degradation markers can differentiate very early knee OA from knee pain that is not due to OA...

Tuesday May 12, 2009
Obesity, Arthritis Blamed for Disability in Women
Females are at greater risk of obesity and arthritis than their male counterparts and these disabling conditions begin early and can rob women of their quality of life...

Thursday May 07, 2009
Half of Early RA Patients Treated With Combo DMARDs Have No Disability After 11 Years
Treating early RA with 3 conventional DMARDs leads to more sustained remissions and better outcomes than starting with a single DMARD, regardless of what regimen is used after year 2...

Thursday Apr 30, 2009
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement? Sometimes.
Minimally invasive knee arthroplasty may be appropriate for select patients when performed by an experienced surgeon...

Wednesday Apr 29, 2009
Simponi Approved in US for RA, PsA, AS
The US Food and Drug Administration this week joined Canada's drugs agency in approving Simponi (golimumab) for moderate to severe RA, active PsA, and active ankylosing spondylitis...

Thursday Apr 16, 2009
Once-a-Year Drug Helps Counter Steroid-Linked Bone Loss
A yearly injection of Reclast was found to be more effective at preventing and/or reversing bone loss for patients with asthma or RA than daily bisphosphonate pills…

Tuesday Apr 14, 2009
Golimumab Gets Canadian OK for RA, PsA, AS
Health Canada has approved Centocor's Simponi (golimumab) for treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and active ankylosing spondylitis (AS)...

Monday Apr 13, 2009
Caffeine May Be New Rx for Pain-Free Exercise
Jumpstarting a workout with a jolt of java or another readily available caffeinated beverage may reduce the pain associated with exercise...

Wednesday Apr 08, 2009
FDA Warns Pharma on "Sponsored Links"
FDA has warned 14 pharmaceutical companies about the brief ads that accompany internet search results...

Tuesday Apr 07, 2009
Low Back, Limb Pain May Be Early Spondyloarthritis
Low back pain, sacroiliitis, and limb arthritis are all early signs of spondyloarthritis...

Thursday Apr 02, 2009
Hurt Cartilage Harbors Potential OA Cure: Stem Cells
Harnessing the power of chondrogenic progenitor cells in diseased human cartilage may help researchers develop regenerative OA therapies...

Monday Mar 30, 2009
Hyaluronic Acid Not Useful in Hip OA
A single injection of hyaluronic acid was no better than placebo for hip OA...

Friday Mar 27, 2009
Fablyn^® OK'ed in EU for Osteoporosis, Still on Hold in US
Pfizer-Ligand's Fablyn^® (lasofoxifene) has been approved by European regulators, just months after failing to win FDA approval in the US...

Thursday Mar 26, 2009
Firefly Protein Lights Up Lupus Imaging
Bioluminescent imaging of NF-kB pinpoints inflamed sites long before symptoms appear in a mouse model of lupus and is likely to speed development of treatments for early disease...

Monday Mar 23, 2009
JIA Gene Profile Study Shows “Remission” Is Not “Normal”
Gene profile data show that juvenile idiopathic arthritis remission is not a return to normal, but a  balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory activity...

Thursday Mar 19, 2009
Actemra Blamed for 15 Deaths in Japan
Actemra (tocilizumab, Roche/Chugai) may have caused 15 deaths in RA patients treated in Japan over the past 10 months...

Monday Mar 16, 2009
Chondrolysis Seen With Local Anesthetic After Shoulder Surgery
Local anesthetic infused into the shoulder joint after arthroscopy can destroy shoulder cartilage...

Wednesday Mar 11, 2009
Biomarkers Are Red Flag for Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk
A soluble TNF receptor begins to increase many years before RA becomes clinically symptomatic and might make a useful screening tool to identify those at risk...

Tuesday Mar 10, 2009
Each 500 mg of Vitamin C Cuts Gout Risk by 17%
Gout risk drops significantly in men who have high dietary levels of vitamin C, and even more in those who take vitamin C supplements...

Tuesday Mar 03, 2009
Tiny Arthroscopic Procedure Patches Up Arthritic Thumb
The most common type of hand arthritis, OA of the thumb, can be successfully repaired using an arthroscopic approach to insert a collagen patch into the carpo-metacarpal space...

Monday Mar 02, 2009
Early Screening, Osteoporosis Treatment Needed to Reduce Hip Fracture Rates
Early osteoporosis screening and treatment are being pushed worldwide as orthopaedic surgeons try to stem the tide of hip fractures in aging populations...

Thursday Feb 26, 2009
Pfizer Stops Work on Esreboxetine for FM
Pfizer has stopped development of esreboxetine, which was in phase II trials for fibromyalgia...

Wednesday Feb 18, 2009
Ustekinumab Reduces Psoriatic Arthritis Pain, Clears Lesions
Ustekinumab (CNTO 1275), a new monoclonal antibody that blocks interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 (IL-23), may help thwart the pain, swelling and lesions of psoriatic arthritis...

Tuesday Feb 17, 2009
Exercise Rx’s for Neck, Back Pain Underused
Less than 50% of chronic back and neck pain patients receive exercise prescriptions despite the proven effectiveness of exercise in treating such pain...

Tuesday Feb 17, 2009
Some TNF Inhibitors Raise Shingles Risk in RA. Time to Vaccinate?
Anti-TNF monoclonal antibody drugs (adalimumab, infliximab) significantly increase herpes zoster risk in RA patients, and vaccination should be considered. Etanercept was not associated with increased herpes zoster risk...

Monday Feb 16, 2009
FDA Gives Nod to Uloric^® (febuxostat), First New Gout Treatment in 40 Years
The US FDA approved 40 mg and 80 mg doses of Takeda Pharmaceutical's febuxostat (Uloric) for the chronic management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout...

Thursday Feb 12, 2009
Strength Training Bests Conventional Rehab After Knee Replacement
A progressive quadriceps strengthening program may help total knee arthroplasty patients approach the functional level seen among healthy peers...

Monday Feb 09, 2009
Scans for Back Pain Ineffective
Imaging scans are largely ineffective at locating the source of low back pain, and may do more harm than good…

Wednesday Feb 04, 2009
Anakinra Shows Modest Benefit, Some Risk in RA: Cochrane Review
The IL-1 receptor antagonist Anakinra (Kineret, Amgen) significantly improves rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients but may be less effective than other biologicals...

Tuesday Feb 03, 2009
Lilly to Pursue OA Pain Indication for Cymbalta
Will OA join depression and fibromyalgia as Cymbalta indications?...

Monday Feb 02, 2009
Rituximab B-Cell Depletion Stops JIA
Systemic onset JIA responded dramatically to B-cell depletion with rituximab...

Friday Jan 30, 2009
Psoriasis Gene Studies Fill In More Pieces of the Puzzle
New genetics data suggest novel approaches to psoriasis treatment...

Thursday Jan 22, 2009
Rheumatoid Arthritis Hits Women Harder
Women are more likely than men to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, and experience the disease more severely...

Tuesday Jan 06, 2009
Forget Knee OA Glucosamine, Orthotics—Lose Weight, AAOS Says
New knee arthritis guidelines from the premier American orthopaedics society say that glucosamine and/or chondroitin, custom-made shoe foot orthotics, and needle lavage are basically useless for the treatment of knee OA, but losing weight helps...

Wednesday Dec 17, 2008
Early RA Shows as MRI Hand Tenosynovitis
MRI readily detects early arthritis as flexor tenosynovitis...

Thursday Dec 11, 2008
One-Shot Synvisc Gets FDA Panel OK
An FDA advisory panel has unanimously recommended approval of Genzyme's Synvisc-One™ single-dose hyalin for knee OA pain...

Tuesday Dec 09, 2008
OA Imaging Explains Subchondral Cysts, Bone Marrow Edema
New OA imaging studies support the bony contusion theory of subchondral cyst formation and show that bone marrow edema in the medial tibia, but not other sites, is a good marker for OA severity...

Friday Dec 05, 2008
SSc Risk 60-Fold Higher in Raynaud's with SSc Antibodies, NCM Changes
Microvascular damage and systemic sclerosis (SSc)-specific antibodies can predict which Raynaud's phenomenon patients will progress to systemic sclerosis, and when...

Thursday Dec 04, 2008
FDA Panel Okays Febuxostat for Gout
A US FDA panel voted 12-0 this week to recommend approval of Takeda Pharmaceutical's febuxostat (Uloric^®), the first new gout drug in 40 years...

Thursday Dec 04, 2008
RA Improving Due to Better Management, Not New Drugs
Better monitoring and more aggressive use of old drugs, especially methotrexate, have contributed more to recent improvements in RA outcomes in Spain than the arrival of new drugs such as TNF inhibitors...

Wednesday Dec 03, 2008
Data from KANON Patients Blow Hole in ACL Repair
Surgical reconstruction was not better than training alone for restoring muscle strength and function after ACL injury…

Tuesday Nov 25, 2008
Who Stays in RA Remission After TNF Blockade Stops?
Patients who start treatment soon after RA symptoms appear, and who have increased functional T-cells, higher levels of interleukin-10, and lower levels of interleukin-12 maintain sustained remission even after stopping TNF-blockers...

Monday Nov 24, 2008
New OA Topicals Ease Pain, Protect Stomach
New topical NSAID formulations relieve OA pain without the GI problems associated with oral NSAIDs...

Friday Nov 21, 2008
EntreMed Reports Antiangiogenic Role of 2ME2 Demonstrated in RA Models
Preclinical results for 2ME2 (Panzem^® or 2-methoxyestradiol) in rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated that 2ME2 involutes rat collagen-induced arthritis and suppresses synovial VEGF and bFGF gene expression...

Thursday Nov 20, 2008
New Therapy Could Transform Arthritis Treatment
Researchers have genetically engineered a modified form of the molecule Foxp3 which helps regulate the body’s immune system and may have important implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis…

Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Phosphagenics’ Transdermal Diclofenac Enters Phase I Clinical Trial
The trial will compare the bioavailability and penetration of the topically applied Voltaren^® gel (1% diclofenac sodium topical gel, Novartis), and Phosphagenics’ TPM/diclofenac (at 1% and 2% diclofenac concentrations) for the targeted delivery of the NSAID diclofenac...

Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Centocor's Golimumab Gives Durable Skin, Joint Relief in Psoriatic Arthritis, ACR Studies Say
More than half of active psoriatic arthritis patients receiving subcutaneous injections of 50 mg or 100 mg of golimumab (CNTO 148) every 4 weeks showed improvements that lasted through 1 year in the joint and skin symptoms...

Monday Nov 17, 2008
Vitamin D Levels Linked to OA Cartilage Loss, OA Pain, and SSc Disease Activity by ACR Researchers
Low vitamin D levels are associated with faster progression of joint damage, bone loss, and pain in OA and with higher levels of inflammatory markers and vascular complications in systemic sclerosis, suggesting that more attention to vitamin D supplements might be in order...

Thursday Nov 13, 2008
Il-6 Blockade Helps Move RA Patients TOWARD Remission
Interleukin-6 blockade with tocilizumab (Actemra^®), when combined with conventional DMARDs, safely and effectively reduces rheumatoid arthritis joint and systemic symptoms in  patients were not helped by DMARDs alone...

Wednesday Nov 12, 2008
Pegloticase Offers Hope to Patients With Worst Types of Gout
Pegloticase (Puricase^®, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) performed well in two Phase III studies...

Wednesday Nov 12, 2008
Novartis’ ACZ885 Phase III Data Show Rapid, Sustained Clinical Remission in Children and Adults with CAPS, a Group of Rare, Potentially Life-Threatening Autoinflammatory Diseases
Novartis also announced that preliminary results of a phase I/II study in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis showed that most patients treated with ACZ885 achieved substantial clinical improvement within 15 days...

Monday Nov 10, 2008
RA Patients Know Less About Treatment Than Doctors Assume
Rheumatoid arthritis  (RA) patients may not be as well-versed on drug treatments as their health care providers think that they are…

Friday Nov 07, 2008
Studies Confirm, Extend Uses of MRI in Spondyloarthropathies
Severe romanus lesions in patients with back pain who are younger than 51 are very specific for spondyloarthropathy, and an MRI of just the sacroiliac joint is generally enough to diagnose nonradiographic axial SpA, regardless of the location of the back pain...

Thursday Nov 06, 2008
Outcome of Total Knee Arthroplasties after Renal Transplantation
Total knee arthroplasty has shown to be a safe and effective treatment of knee osteonecrosis and severe osteoarthritis in kidney transplant patients…

Wednesday Nov 05, 2008
Study Establishes Safety of Long-Term Juvenile Arthritis Treatments
Three-year data reported at ACR show that long-term etanercept, with or without MTX, is safe and effective in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis...

Tuesday Nov 04, 2008
Genentech, Biogen Idec Rituxan Phase III Data in RA Patients Showed Patients who Received Fixed Interval Re-Treatment Maintained Treatment Response; Positive Phase III Data Also Reported for Rituxan plus MTX in Biologic-Naïve RA Patients, Immune Response in Rituxan-Treated Patients Yielded Mixed Results in Phase II Study
Rituxan, in combination with MTX, is indicated to reduce signs and symptoms and to slow the progression of structural damage in adult patients with moderately-to-severely active RA who have had an inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist therapies...

Monday Nov 03, 2008
Tanezumab Reduces Moderate-Severe OA Pain in Phase II Trial
The nerve-growth-factor blocker tanezumab given once every 8 weeks significantly reduced knee OA pain in a phase 2 trial...

Friday Oct 31, 2008
Overnight Femoral Nerve Block As Good As 4-Day Block for Knee Replacement Pain
An overnight femoral nerve block improves function as well as a 4-day continuous femoral nerve block following total knee arthroplasty, although the continuous femoral nerve block may offer other advantages…

Thursday Oct 30, 2008
Abatacept Helps Kids With Arthritis Stay in School
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with abatacept (Orencia^®) missed fewer school days than those who received placebo...

Thursday Oct 30, 2008
Old Malaria Drug Reduces Diabetes Risk in RA, Protects Kidneys in Lupus
The inexpensive old drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) shows remarkable protective ability against diabetes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and against renal disease in patients with lupus...

Wednesday Oct 29, 2008
Rheumatoid Arthritis Rising in Women
The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis among women fell during the second half of the 20th century, but is now on the rise in the US…

Wednesday Oct 29, 2008
Denosumab Bests Alendronate for Increasing Bone Mass
One year of denosumab was more likely to produce a 3% gain in hip or spine bone mass than one year of alendronate...

Tuesday Oct 28, 2008
Rheumatology Experts Say Stopping Smoking May Cut RA Pain, Disease Activity
Researchers at two major medical meetings are highlighting the role smoking plays in chronic pain and disease activity in RA...

Tuesday Oct 28, 2008
Syk Kinase Inhibitor R788 (Tamatinib fosdium) Achieves  ACR20 Response Rates Over 60% in Phase II Trial
The oral Syk kinase inhibitor R788 achieved impressive efficacy in a phase II RA trial...

Monday Oct 27, 2008
VGX Initiates Follow-On, Phase I, Multiple Ascending Dose Study for Oral Anti-Inflammatory Drug Targeting RA and Type 1 Diabetes
VGX Pharmaceuticals announced phase I study results that demonstrated that its lead anti-inflammatory compound, VGX-1027, was generally safe and well tolerated in humans...

Monday Oct 27, 2008
JAMA Biologicals Safety Data Show Impact of What Supreme Court Will Decide in Wyeth v Levine
Nearly one-quarter of biological drugs wind up with additional health warnings within a few years of reaching the market. Experts say this illustrates the importance of a coming US Supreme Court decision on whether FDA approval shields companies from liability for harm caused by approved agents and devices...

Monday Oct 27, 2008
Tai Chi Rx for Knee OA
Tai chi may help treat pain and physical impairment among patients with severe knee osteoarthritis…

Wednesday Oct 22, 2008
Biogen Idec Reports Top-Line Results From Phase II Clinical Trial of Baminercept in RA; Will Discontinue Development in RA
The phase II trial of baminercept in RA patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug did not meet its primary endpoint...

Friday Oct 10, 2008
Understanding RA Relapse After Pregnancy
New research sheds light on why rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tends to become reactivated in the postpartum period...

Thursday Oct 09, 2008
Rheumatologists Usually on Target With Intra-Articular Injections, Even Without Ultrasound
New research shows that blind intra-articular injections (IAIs) in rheumatoid arthritis patients, done without ultrasound guidance, are accurate when performed by a trained rheumatologist. Blind injections into the ankle are the most unreliable, at 77% accuracy...

Thursday Oct 09, 2008
Fat Limbs Linked to Disability in Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis patients with more fat on their arms and legs suffer a greater degree of disability from their disease than those with thinner limbs…

Wednesday Oct 08, 2008
Fractalkine May Be Key to Unleashed Immune Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Fractalkine (FKN) is emerging as a central player in the RA synovial inflammation, neovascularization, and joint destruction, and also might be link between joint damage and increased cardiovascular risk...

Tuesday Oct 07, 2008
Discovery Of New Genes Linked To Gout
Two new genes have been identified and associated with increased risk of elevated uric acid levels in the blood, which can lead to gout…

Friday Oct 03, 2008
Occupational Therapy May Help OA Patients Get Moving
Occupational therapy may help get patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) lead more active lives…

Friday Oct 03, 2008
Distress, Chronic Pain Problems More Common in Mothers of Adolescents With Fibromyalgia
Families of adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome have increased prevalence of distress and chronic pain, and are likely to have poorer family functioning and more conflicted family relationships...

Wednesday Oct 01, 2008
Roche Says US FDA Issues Complete Response Letter for Actemra^® Biologics License Application; No New Clinical Studies Requested
Actemra^® (tocilizumab) is the first humanized interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody studied for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis...

Wednesday Oct 01, 2008
Glucosamine/Chondroitin Stumbles Again in GAIT II Study of Knee OA Progression
2-year data from the GAIT trial show no significant effect of glucosamine with or without chondroitin sulfate on progression of joint damage...

Tuesday Sep 30, 2008
Microparticles May Be Big Players in Systemic Scleroderma Disease Activity
Microparticles—small, membrane, coated vesicles—found in the blood of systemic scleroderma patients might not be inert debris…

Monday Sep 29, 2008
Abbott Reports Continuous Treatment With Humira^® Achieves Superior Long-Term Efficacy for Psoriasis Patients in the US and Europe Versus Interrupting Treatment
The findings were from the company's pivotal 52-week REVEAL study and the period of open-label treatment that followed...

Monday Sep 29, 2008
Pegloticase May be Just What the Rheumatologist Ordered for Treatment-Resistant Gout
Treatment-resistant gout may have finally met its match with a new, urate-lowering drug...

Thursday Sep 25, 2008
Disease Factors, Corticosteroids Nearly Double Heart Attack Risk in RA Patients
RA-specific factors and corticosteroid use significantly increase the risk of myocardial infarction in RA patients…

Wednesday Sep 24, 2008
Alpharma Announces Positive Results From Pivotal Phase III Efficacy Trial of ALO-01 (Embeda™) Capsules for Pain Relief in Patients With OA
If approved by the US FDA, ALO-01 would be the first opioid medicine to provide a pharmacologic abuse-deterrent feature while effectively treating patients with chronic pain...

Tuesday Sep 23, 2008
Out of Joint
A unique application of MRI technology may be able to provide a non-invasive early diagnosis of osteoarthritis...

Monday Sep 22, 2008
Body Fat Increases CRP in Women With RA, May Lead to Wrong Diagnosis of Persistent Synovitis
High levels of adipose tissue, especially in the midsection, are associated with high CRP levels in women with RA. Elevated CRP levels in overweight patients might not be an indication that more aggressive RA treatment is needed...

Friday Sep 19, 2008
Axial Biotech Initiates Clinical Field Test for ScoliScore™ AIS Prognostic Test
The ScoliScore™ AIS Prognostic Test can determine whether a child has a mild or more severe likelihood of curve progression, at the first presentation of symptoms...

Thursday Sep 18, 2008
GSK, Cellzome Announce Strategic Alliance to Identify Kinase-Targeted Drugs for Inflammatory Diseases
The alliance gives GSK access to Cellzome’s expertise in identifying and developing selective kinase inhibitors and its proprietary Kinobeads™ technology which, by screening compounds in a physiological setting, is designed to improve the predictability of these drug candidates’ performance in clinical testing...

Wednesday Sep 17, 2008
Experts Warn the Meniscal Damage Seen on MRI Should Not Drive Knee Surgery Decisions in Middle-Aged, Elderly Persons
Most middle-aged and elderly persons who have meniscal damage that can be seen on MRI have asymptomatic knees, and even in those with symptoms, the pain might not be related to the meniscus...

Monday Sep 15, 2008
ACR REF Clinical and Translational Research Grants Target Better Ways to Monitor Response to Arthritis Care, Genetics, Heart and Bone Health in RA Patients
Six major grants from the ACR Research and Education Foundation show the growing importance of finding better ways to monitor response to (often expensive) RA care, decoding the genetic underpinnings of arthritis, and protecting arthritis patients’ hearts and bones in long-term care...

Monday Sep 15, 2008
ACR REF Clinical and Translational Research Grants Target Better Ways to Monitor Response to Arthritis Care, Genetics, Heart and Bone Health in RA Patients
Six major grants from the ACR Research and Education Foundation show the growing importance of finding better ways to monitor response to (often expensive) RA care, decoding the genetic underpinnings of arthritis, and protecting arthritis patients’ hearts and bones in long-term care...

Monday Sep 15, 2008
Study Rules Against Arthroscopy for Most Knee OA Cases
Arthroscopy is not effective for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA), but an editorialist urges clinicians not to throw out the baby with the bathwater as arthroscopy can—and does—help knee OA patients in whom a coexisting knee problem such as a meniscal tear or a loose piece of cartilage is causing the majority of their symptoms…

Friday Sep 12, 2008
Breaking News: FDA Warns About Fatal PML in RA Patient Taking Rituxan^®
FDA issued a MedWatch warning reporting the first fatal PML case in a patient taking Rituxan for RA...

Thursday Sep 11, 2008
Almost Half of Adults Will Develop Knee Osteoarthritis by 85
Men and women who are obese during middle age are at the greatest risk for this painful condition…

Thursday Sep 11, 2008
Total Ankle Replacements are Coming Into their Own—Finally
Total ankle replacements are expected to soon rival hip and knee replacements in design, function, and durability. Airbags and seatbelts contribute to growing demand…

Wednesday Sep 10, 2008
Joint Revision Study Suggests Using Hip Resurfacing Only in Men, Unicondylar Knee Replacement Only in Elderly Arthritis Patients
Only 1 in 75 patients with primary hip or knee replacement require revision surgery after 3 years, but limiting certain procedures to males or elderly patients might reduce this rate even more…

Tuesday Sep 09, 2008
Can-Fite Reports that Seikagaku Corp, Exclusive Licensee of CF101 in Japan, is to Initiate Phase I Trial in Japan to Treat RA; Can-Fite to Receive $1 Million USD
CF101, Can-Fite’s lead compound, is an oral drug that has been successfully used in animal models and human phase IIa RA trials to test the concept of targeting A(3)AR for the treatment of inflammatory diseases...

Monday Sep 08, 2008
ACR Research and Education Foundation Grants Point to New Arthritis Research
New REF grants target RA immunotherapy, inflammation, bone erosions, PAD inhibition...

Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Omeros Enters Into Agreement With Affitech for Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics, Awaits Phase III Clinical Trial Results for Agent
Omeros Corp and Affitech AS have entered into an agreement for the discovery and development of fully human antibodies for Omeros’ MASP-2, which mediates activation of the complement system via the lectin pathway...

Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Scientists Discover How Osteoarthritis Destroys Cartilage
New discovery may lead to preventive treatment for osteoarthritis…

Wednesday Sep 03, 2008
Out-of-Pocket Arthritis Costs Rising Despite Medicare Drug Benefit
Out-of-pocket medical costs for Medicare-age adults were brought close to 2003 levels by the new Medicare Part D drug benefit, but high OTC and prescription costs continue to be an issue...

Tuesday Sep 02, 2008
Naproxcinod Moves Ahead in Pivotal Phase III Study in Osteoarthritis
The next generation of COX inhibitors is likely to include the nitric oxide-donating CINODs, the first of which (naproxcinod) is in phase III trials...

Tuesday Sep 02, 2008
Logical Therapeutics Reports Positive Results from Phase Ib Clinical Study of Naproxen Prodrug; Dosing Well-Tolerated and Plasma Concentrations Achieve Therapeutic Range
In the phase Ib study twice-daily dosing with LT-NS001 for 7 days resulted in plasma concentrations of naproxen within the therapeutic range, with no serious adverse events reported...

Friday Aug 29, 2008
Ligaments Tie Together OA Pathology
Ligaments are emerging as the key to understanding why osteoarthritis develops in nontraumatized joints...

Thursday Aug 28, 2008
Experts Urge More Attention to Vitamin D in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Vitamin D not only helps prevent steroid-induced osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis but might also help reduce falls and modulate disease activity...

Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Pivotal Humira Trial Shows Durable Benefit in Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
The pivotal trial of adalimumab (Humira^®) shows durable, safe efficacy for up to 2 years for children with polyarticular JRA and positions the TNF-inhibitor as the reasonable second-line drug to add if methotrexate does not provide sufficient disease control...

Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Researchers Home in On Role of TNF in RA Bone Destruction
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) decreases osteoblast numbers via an enzyme called Smad Ubiquitin Regulatory Factor 1 (SMURF1), which shuts down two proteins that would otherwise drive bone formation…

Tuesday Aug 26, 2008
After Fits and Starts, New Hope for Psoriasis Patients
Psoriasis patients are finally finding some relief with a new wave of drug treatments known as biologics…

Monday Aug 25, 2008
Emisphere Reports Full Recruitment of Study Evaluating Eligen^® Technology and Salmon Calcitonin on Vertebral Fractures in Postmenopausal Women
Emisphere Technologies announced that recruitment is finished for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of oral salmon calcitonin in the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women taking calcium and vitamin D...

Friday Aug 22, 2008
While Olympians Chase Medals, Chicken Collagen Advances as RA Immunotherapy
Inducing oral tolerance with chicken type II collagen (CCII) may help alleviate the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with fewer side effects than methotrexate (MTX), Chinese researchers say…

Thursday Aug 21, 2008
Mesoblast Reports Stem Cells Regrow Knee Cartilage in Postmenopausal Ewes With OA; Repair Nonhealing Bones in Humans
Mesoblast, a regenerative medicine company developing treatments for orthopaedic conditions, announced successful preclinical trial results showing that its proprietary adult stem cells regenerated and regrew damaged knee cartilage...

Monday Aug 18, 2008
Power Doppler Ultrasound Measures Response to TNF-blockers in RA
Power doppler ultrasonographic monitoring may help measure response to TNF-blockers as well as predict X-ray progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients…

Thursday Aug 14, 2008
Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer Face Joint Issues
Breast cancer patients who are postmenopausal and are receiving endocrine treatment may be at increased risk of joint issues such as arthritis…

Wednesday Aug 13, 2008
OA Increase Among Women Seems Due to Obesity As Well As Aging
OA is becoming more prevalent as the population of elderly increases, but Canadian researchers report that age alone does not account for the increased incidence of OA among women...

Wednesday Aug 13, 2008
Tolerx Reports Collaboration Partner, Genentech, has Advanced a Modified Humanized Nondepleting Anti-CD4 Monoclonal Antibody Into Phase I Clinical Trial in RA Patients
The Tolerx and Genentech collaboration has moved a modified version of TRX1 (MTRX1011A), an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody, into a phase I clinical trial that has begun enrolling RA patients...

Monday Aug 11, 2008
Hollis-Eden Initiates Phase I/II Clinical Trial With TRIOLEX™ (HE3286) in RA
Hollis-Eden's investigational, nonimmunosuppressive oral drug candidate Triolex™ (HE3286), a stabilized, synthetic analog of a naturally occurring molecule metabolized by the body, is being tested in patients diagnosed with RA who are receiving a stable dose of MTX...

Thursday Aug 07, 2008
Heart Risks Rise With Revision or Bilateral Joint Arthroplasty
Patients who undergo revision or bilateral joint arthroplasty are at significantly higher increased risk for heart attack or heart failure than patients who undergo their first replacement of a single knee or hip…

Thursday Aug 07, 2008
Doctors Seeing More Arthritis In Active Boomers
Early treatment can prevent long-term pain in active baby boomers that are now beginning to suffer from painful arthritis…

Wednesday Aug 06, 2008
Statins May Help Bone Healing
Statins may improve bone healing, according to new research in an animal model of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)…

Tuesday Aug 05, 2008
Frankincense Extract Safe, Effective in OA
An enriched extract of frankincense reduced pain and improved physical functioning in people with osteoarthritis (OA) in just 7 days…

Friday Aug 01, 2008
Roche Reports US FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of Actemra^®; if Approved, Would Be First IL-6 Inhibitor for the Treatment of RA
Hoffmann-La Roche announced that the Arthritis Advisory Committee of the US FDA recommended approval of Actemra^® (tocilizumab), a novel interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor-inhibiting humanized monoclonal antibody...

Friday Aug 01, 2008
Tiny Mitochondria May Have Big Role in OA
Mitochondrial dysfunction appears to play a major role in knee OA, and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes partly determine whether OA will develop and its severity...

Thursday Jul 31, 2008
Antidepressants Pass Analgesic Muster for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Back Pain
Antidepressants can relieve the pain associated with some rheumatic conditions including fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain, but they may not have such pain-killing effects in other related diseases…

Tuesday Jul 29, 2008
CEL-SCI Announces Positive Preclinical Results Using CEL-2000, a Chimeric Peptide with Bi-Functional Properties, as RA Vaccine
CEL-SCI Corp announced the discovery of CEL-2000, a novel peptide vaccine for the treatment of RA. Tests showed that CEL-2000 is equivalent or possibly superior to Enbrel^® in slowing disease progression and lessening symptoms in mice...

Monday Jul 28, 2008
Chelsea Therapeutics Granted UK MHRA Approval to Begin Phase II Trial of Droxidopa, a Prodrug of Norepinephrine, in Fibromyalgia
Droxidopa, an orally active synthetic amino acid precursor of norepinephrine (NE), is converted by the body into norepinephrine and as a prodrug of NE, provides replacement therapy for NE deficiency...

Monday Jul 28, 2008
NHS TNF Inhibitor Restrictions Heighten Impact of Baseline DAS28 in RA
The British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for approving access to TNF inhibitors for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be unnecessarily extending the period when steroids are not allowed and classifying >30% of patients as “nonresponders” who would not be allowed to continue anti-TNF treatment...

Thursday Jul 24, 2008
Adenosine Receptor Variant Might Be Pharmacogenetic Marker for RA Methotrexate Toxicity Risk
The discovery that variants of the adenosine receptor 2a gene (ADORA2a) are associated with methotrexate toxicity may help identify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who should be treated with something else...

Tuesday Jul 22, 2008
Ardea Biosciences Advances RDEA806 Into Phase IIa Proof-of-Concept Study for Gout
Ardea Biosciences has received regulatory approval to begin a phase IIa proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating RDEA806 in gout patients with hyperuricemia...

Friday Jul 18, 2008
Even Really Old Joints Benefit From Replacement in Osteoarthritis
Patients ≥75 do as well as those 65 to 74 after joint replacement for severe hip or knee OA...

Thursday Jul 17, 2008
New OA-Associated Gene Points to β-Tubulin Connection
Variants in a gene called DVWA may increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis...

Thursday Jul 17, 2008
Classification and Categorization of Psoriatic Arthritis
Researchers in the field of psoriatic arthritis are working to overhaul Moll and Wright’s criteria for the classification and categorization of the disease…

Tuesday Jul 15, 2008
Wyeth Reports European Commission Announces Marketing Authorization for 50 mg Once-Weekly Enbrel^® (etanercept) for Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis
The European Commission announced a new 50 mg Enbrel^® (etanercept) once-weekly dosage regimen as an alternative to the currently approved 25 mg Enbrel twice-weekly regimen for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis...

Friday Jul 11, 2008
FDA Warns of Tendonitis, Tendon Rupture Risk With Certain Antibiotics
Fluoroquinolones get black box warning due to increase risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture…

Friday Jul 11, 2008
MediGene Puts Phase I Trial Hold on Due to Patient Death in Study of RhuDex^® in a New Formulation; Reports Positive Results With RhuDex in Phase IIa Pilot Trial in RA
One study participant suffered a heart problem some days after a scheduled treatment of RhuDex^®, an orally administered candidate for the treatment of RA; it is currently unclear whether there is any correlation between the death and the drug administration...

Tuesday Jul 08, 2008
Rheumatologists Can Expect to See More HIV-Related Joint Problems as Mortality Drops
Mortality in HIV-infected patients has dropped comparable with general population levels, especially in those who begin highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) early, and one result is that rheumatologists can expect to see more long-term HIV survivors with joint problems related to the underlying HIV, treatment, or aging...

Monday Jul 07, 2008
UCB’s Cimzia^® Filed With EMEA for Treatment of RA: if Approved, Would be First and Only PEGylated, Fc-Free Anti-TNFα Biologic
UCB has submitted an MMA for approval of Cimzia^® (certolizumab pegol) as a subcutaneous treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis...

Thursday Jul 03, 2008
Centocor Requests Approval From FDA of Golimumab for the Treatment of RA, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Centocor submitted a Biologics License Application to the US FDA requesting the approval of golimumab, a human anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody, as a monthly subcutaneous treatment for adults with active forms of RA, PsA, and AS...

Thursday Jul 03, 2008
Small Protein May Have Big Role In Making More Bone And Less Fat
The protein GILZ may be the key to developing therapies to fight both obesity and osteoporosis…

Wednesday Jul 02, 2008
Biotie Reports Positive Phase 1a Data for Anti-VAP-1 Monoclonal Antibody BTT-1023; Dosing Regimens to be Established in RA and Psoriasis Patients
Biotie's first-in-human study of BTT-1023 investigated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of single intravenous doses of the antibody in healthy volunteer subjects...

Thursday Jun 26, 2008
Otsuka, UCB to Codevelop and Copromote Cimzia^® in Japan for Crohn's Disease
UCB and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals have agreed to copromote UCB's anti-TNFα drug Cimzia^® for the treatment of Crohn's Disease in Japan, the second largest pharmaceutical market in the world...

Thursday Jun 26, 2008
New ACR Guidelines Help Clinicians Incorporate Biologics Into RA Treatment Plans
The new American College of Rheumatology guidelines help rheumatologists to choose the right drugs and to monitor RA patients for untoward effects, but the guidelines should not replace sound clinical judgment…

Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Exercise Helps Prevent Knee OA in the Young and the Young at Heart
Moderate exercise may help prevent knee osteoarthritis (OA) in young and middle-aged individuals…

Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Genmab, GSK to Initiate Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Ofatumumab in Subcutaneous Study in RA
A phase I/II study will be initiated soon to evaluate a subcutaneous route of administration of ofatumumab (HuMax-CD20^®) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, stable on methotrexate (MTX)...

Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Nearly Half of Undifferentiated Arthritis Patients Can Achieve Drug-Free Remission After 1 Year of MTX
The chance of achieving drug-free arthritis remission after 1 year of MTX therapy is 46% and is predicted by a negative ACPA status, no or low radiographic damage at baseline, increased age, and shorter disease duration…

Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Treatment Adherence in Patients with RA and SLE
Many RA and SLE patients report problems with treatment adherence; race, education, and treatment side effects are the most influential factors on adherence…

Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Steroids Injections May Prevent Rheumatoid Arthrits From Developing
A 3-week course of IM steroids may stop the progression of early rheumatoid arthritis…

Friday Jun 20, 2008
Briobacept May Follow Rituximab as B-Cell Directed Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Briobacept, which targets B-cell activating factor (BAFF), can be given repeatedly to reduce CD19+CD27- B-cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients...

Friday Jun 20, 2008
Longitudinal MRI Study Confirms that Rituximab Stops Progression in RA, Suggests Some Regression
Imaging studies done 1 year after rituximab (RTX) treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) confirm that progression of joint damage was stopped, and suggest that there may even have been some regression of established damage...

Thursday Jun 19, 2008
Infliximab (Remicade^®) Plus Combination DMARD Therapy for Early RA Increases Remission Rate, Slows Radiological Progression
Adding infliximab (INF) to effective combination DMARD therapy for patients with early RA both increases the remission and slows progression of joint damage...

Thursday Jun 19, 2008
Baminercept shows good safety, substantial activity against RA in phase II data reported at EULAR
Baminercept alfa, a novel lymphotoxin β-receptor blocker, showed promising safety and efficacy in phase II data reported at EULAR...

Thursday Jun 19, 2008
Influence of Musculoskeletal Conditions on Oral Health Among Older Adults
Several musculoskeletal diseases negatively influence oral health, but damage can be minimized with simple and inexpensive measures…

Wednesday Jun 18, 2008
Rigel Launches Two Global Phase IIb Clinical Trials of Syk Inhibitor, R788 (fostamatinib disodium), in RA
Rigel currently has small-molecule product development programs in inflammatory/autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, thrombocytopenia, and asthma...

Wednesday Jun 18, 2008
ChemoCentryx Completes Enrollment of Phase II/III Clinical Trial of CCR9 Antagonist CCX282-B (Traficet-EN™) in Crohn's; Reports Advancing Second-Generation CCR9 Drug
The trial comprises three discrete phases to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Traficet-EN in inducing a clinical response or remission, as well as maintaining response/remission in Crohn's disease over 12 months...

Wednesday Jun 18, 2008
Anti-TNF Gene Therapy Appears Safe, May Reduce Pain, Swelling in RA Joints
Researchers report that transferring a TNF-antagonist gene into the joint is safe, may reduce pain and swelling in patients with inflammatory arthritis...

Tuesday Jun 17, 2008
Tocilizumab Plus Methotrexate Shows Efficacy for Anti-TNF Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis
Tocilizumab plus methotrexate (MTX) looks to be an effective alternative for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with inadequate response to TNF inhibitors...

Monday Jun 16, 2008
Phase III Data Show Golimumab Efficacy in MTX-Resistant, TNF-Pretreated, Untreated RA
Data from the phase III GO-FORWARD and GO-BEFORE studies show that subcutaneous golimumab improves symptoms, function in RA patients after MTX, anti-TNF failure...

Friday Jun 13, 2008
Clinical, X-ray, and Functional Remission Possible in Early RA With MTX-ETN Combo
Etanercept (ETN) in combination with methotrexate (MTX) was superior to MTX alone in allowing RA patients to achieve clinical remission, radiographic nonprogression, and normalized function... 

Thursday Jun 12, 2008
Increased Melanoma Risk Seen in RA Patients Taking MTX
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking methotrexate (MTX) may be at a 3-fold increased risk for developing potentially fatal melanoma…

Thursday Jun 12, 2008
Step-Up, Tight Control Abates Early RA in 50% of Patients by 36 Weeks
As many as half of all early rheumatoid arthritis patients may achieve remission within 36 weeks following step-up therapy coupled with tight control...

Wednesday Jun 11, 2008
Merck Announces Initiation of Second Phase II/III Pivotal Clinical Study of Atacicept in SLE
Merck and development partner ZymoGenetics have initiated a phase II/III trial of atacicept (formerly TACI-Ig) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Atacicept inhibits the two growth factors BLyS and APRIL that are known to impact disease progression...

Wednesday Jun 11, 2008
Meniscal Damage, Joint Malalignment Predict Cartilage Loss in Knee OA
New research confirms that meniscal damage and joint alignment predict cartilage loss in knee osteoarthritis (OA)…

Wednesday Jun 11, 2008
How to Tell If an RA Patient is Likely to Achieve DMARD-Free Remission Without Biologics
A number of factors identify rheumatoid arthritis patients whose disease is likely to respond to conventional DMARD treatment with sustained, drug-free remission...

Tuesday Jun 10, 2008
B-Cell Subset May Identify RA Patients at Risk for Relapse After Rituximab
A memory B-cell subset that could be readily monitored from peripheral blood samples might help identify RA patients who need early re-treatment with rituximab to prevent RA relapse...

Monday Jun 09, 2008
FDA Launches Major Investigation of Cancer Risk in Children Taking TNF Blockers
The FDA is investigating a possible link between TNF blockers and cancer in children and young adults...

Monday Jun 02, 2008
Targeted Genetics Reports Positive Interim Findings From Inflammatory Arthritis Phase I/II Trial of tgAAC94; Demonstrates Safety and Preliminary Efficacy, Supports Further Clinical Development
Targeted Genetics Corp's study is designed to assess the safety and potential effect of multiple doses of tgAAC94 administered directly to affected joints of inflammatory arthritis subjects with or without concurrent use of systemic TNF antagonist therapies...

Friday May 30, 2008
Rituximab May Be First Choice Biologic for Some RA Patients
Rituximab may be a reasonable first-line biologic choice for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are not candidates for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) blockers…

Thursday May 29, 2008
Medarex Initiates Phase II Proof-of-Concept Trials for MDX-1100, a Fully Human Anti-CXCL10 Monoclonal Antibody, in UC and RA
Medarex announced that it has initiated two phase II clinical development programs of MDX-1100, a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets CXCL10 (also known as IP-10), in ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis...

Thursday May 29, 2008
Cane Use May Cut Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis
Using the support of a cane may reduce the risk of the progression of knee osteoarthritis…

Wednesday May 28, 2008
Smokers With RA Use More DMARDs, Biologics, but Don't Have Worse Joint Damage
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who smoke are likely to use more DMARDs or biologics than nonsmokers and are less likely to achieve ACR response, but they do not have worse joint damage...

Tuesday May 27, 2008
Factors Associated With Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Among Bisphosphonate Users
Researchers found a multitude of factors associated with the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw among patients taking bisphosphonates for an indication other than cancer...

Thursday May 22, 2008
Ankle Osteoarthritis is Associated With Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee OA can change the alignment of the entire extremity, leading to degenerative changes in the ankle joint and the development of ankle OA...

Wednesday May 21, 2008
Amgen’s 2nd Phase III Denosumab Osteoporosis Study Meets Primary, Secondary BMD Endpoints in Alendronate Transition Study; Transition Patients Achieved Superior Gains in BMD
Amgen's trial comparing the effects of denosumab vs continued alendronate therapy on bone mineral density demonstrated superior results for primary and all secondary endpoints...

Tuesday May 20, 2008
Is "Diarthritis" the New Epidemic? Maybe
We've heard of diabesity (the converging epidemic of diabetes and obesity) and now doctors may be seeing more diarthritis (diabetes plus arthritis) in their patients…

Monday May 19, 2008
ChemoCentryx Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of CCR1 Inhibitor CCX354 for Inflammatory Disease; Milestone Triggers $10 Million Payment From Partner GSK
ChemoCentryx announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial of CCX354, an orally-available, novel small molecule compound designed to specifically target the CCR1 chemokine receptor associated with inflammatory diseases...

Friday May 16, 2008
Centocor Alerts Authorized Distributors and Prescribing Physicians About Stolen Infliximab (Remicade^®)
A transport trailer carrying infliximab (Remicade^®) was stolen en route to a specialty distributor on May 6, 2008...

Thursday May 15, 2008
Breastfeeding May Slash Mother's RA Risk
Women who breastfeed for ≥13 months have a 50% reduced risk of developing RA…

Wednesday May 14, 2008
Roche’s Fifth Phase III Study for Actemra^® Inhibits Joint Damage and Improves Physical Function of Patients With RA
Roche's Actemra^® (tocilizumab), a humanized interleukin-6 receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody, can significantly inhibit structural damage to joints in patients with RA...

Wednesday May 14, 2008
8-Year Data Confirm Etanercept Safety, Efficacy in Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Long-term open-label data show that etanercept (Enbrel^®) is safe and effective over 8 years of continuous treatment of children with JRA...

Tuesday May 13, 2008
Osteologix’s IND for NB S101 (strontium malonate) to Treat Osteoporosis Accepted by US FDA
The US FDA has accepted Osteologix's IND application for NB S101 (strontium malonate), a dual-acting bone agent, to treat and prevent osteoporosis...

Tuesday May 13, 2008
Incidence and Prevalence of Psoriatic Arthritis
Researchers found geographic variations in the occurrence of PsA, but methodological issues make interpreting epidemiologic data difficult…

Tuesday May 13, 2008
More than Half of US Diabetics Have Arthritis
Arthritis afflicts more than half of diabetes patients in the US, making exercise difficult…

Monday May 12, 2008
Rituximab OK Following Anti-TNF-Associated TB
Rituximab is both safe and effective in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have had active TB while being treated with a TNF-α inhibitor...

Monday May 12, 2008
Nuon Raises $27 Million to Advance Tranilast Through Phase II Clinical Trials for Autoimmune Diseases
Nuon completed a $27 million series B financing to advance tranilast, its orally available, small-molecule lead compound...

Friday May 09, 2008
Treating Early RA With Intensive Step-Up Triple-DMARDs is as Good Starting 3 At Once—Perhaps as Effective as Biologics
Intensive triple therapy with conventional DMARDs in early active RA is as effective as a step-up regimen and is as effective as when all 3 drugs are started together, and both approaches can achieve response rates as high as those seen with biologics…

Thursday May 08, 2008
More Evidence that Walking Barefoot is Better for Arthritic Knees Than Wearing Shoes
Shoes increase stress on knee joints compared with walking barefoot and might contribute to progression of osteoarthritis...

Thursday May 08, 2008
Trubion Initiates Phase IIb Study of TRU-015, a CD20-directed Drug Candidate, Plus MTX for the Treatment of RA
Trubion's partner Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has commenced patient dosing in a multicenter, phase IIb clinical trial of TRU-015; previously reported data demonstrated TRU-015's ability to significantly improve RA signs and symptoms...

Wednesday May 07, 2008
Patient Reported Outcomes and Analgesia Use in Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Research suggests that pain is not the primary determinant for use of non-opioid analgesics by osteoarthritis patients…

Tuesday May 06, 2008
Lexicon's RA Drug Candidate LX2931, Targeting S1P Lyase, Shows Positive Results in Phase 1a Clinical Trial; Dose-Dependent, Rapid-Onset Decrease in Circulating Lymphocytes Observed
Positive results were obtained from Lexicon's phase 1a clinical trial of LX2931, an orally-delivered, small molecule targeting sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase for the treatment of RA and other autoimmune conditions...

Tuesday May 06, 2008
Rigel's R788 (fostamatinib disodium) Slows Progression, Prolongs Survival in Murine Lupus Model; Phase II Lupus Clinical Trial Planned Later in 2008
Rigel's lead agent, R788 (fostamatinib disodium), an orally bioavailable spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has successfully treated lupus-prone mice and significantly improved their survival...

Friday May 02, 2008
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Passes Congress, Heads for White House
Both houses of Congress have passed legislation that bans discrimination in employment, insurance, and other areas based on an individual’s genetic makeup, and the bill is expected to be quickly signed into law by President George W. Bush...

Thursday May 01, 2008
Genentech, Biogen Idec Report Phase II/III Trial of Rituxan^® Fails to Meet Primary or Secondary Endpoints in Lupus
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II/III study of Rituxan^® (rituximab) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) did not meet its primary endpoint or any of the six secondary endpoints...

Thursday May 01, 2008
Are Rheumatologists Bugging Out Over New RA Treatment?
New research shows that a particular species of Chinese medicinal ant known as Polyrhachis lamellidens may help fight rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis…

Wednesday Apr 30, 2008
Grim Picture Painted for Lupus 5-Year Mortality Risk
Despite some advances in treatment, recently diagnosed lupus patients still face elevated risks of death within 5 years of their diagnosis when compared with lupus-free controls…

Thursday Apr 24, 2008
UCB’s Cimzia^® Approved in the US for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Crohn's Disease; Dosed Subcutaneously Every 4 Weeks 
The US FDA has approved Cimzia^® (certolizumab pegol), indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderate-to-severe active disease who have an inadequate response to conventional therapy... 

Thursday Apr 24, 2008
Nothing Fishy: Fish Oil Supplement Reduces NSAID Need in RA
Rheumatoid arthritis patients who take fish oil supplements can slash their need for NSAIDs…

Thursday Apr 24, 2008
S. pyogenes-Linked New-Onset Childhood Arthritis Differs in Severity, Duration, from Other Types
Up to 35% of children with new-onset arthritis test positive for S. pyogenes and have a different disease course than children with other forms of inflammatory arthritis; they do not need routine cardiology follow-up, according to a population-based study...

Wednesday Apr 23, 2008
GSK, Regulus Form Alliance to Develop microRNA-Targeted Therapeutics to Treat RA and IBD; Deal Potentially Valued at Over $600 Million  
GlaxoSmithKline and Regulus Therapeutics LLC announced a worldwide strategic alliance to discover, develop, and market novel microRNA(miRNA)-targeted therapeutics to treat inflammatory diseases such as RA and inflammatory bowel disease...

Monday Apr 21, 2008
Abbott’s Humira^® (adalimumab) Approved in Japan for the Treatment of RA
Abbott received approval in Japan for Humira^® (adalimumab) to treat RA in patients with inadequate response to conventional therapy...

Friday Apr 18, 2008
Roche’s Actemra^® (tocilizumab) Approved in Japan to Treat Patients With RA; Represents First Approval for Actemra in RA Worldwide
Roche partner company Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd has received approval in Japan for Actemra^® (tocilizumab) 200 mg for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, making Japan the first market to gain access to Actemra for the treatment of RA...

Thursday Apr 17, 2008
PAH Differs in Connective Tissue Diseases
Patients with PAH due to connective tissue disease have more dysfunctional pulmonary capillary endothelium than those with PAH from other causes... 

Thursday Apr 17, 2008
Skyrocketing Rates of Hip and Knee Replacements May Tax Healthcare System
The US healthcare system should brace itself for an exponential increase in the number of primary and revision joint arthroplasties and their associated costs…

Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
Lilly’s Forsteo^® Receives Approval From European Commission for the Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
Eli Lilly and Co announced that the European Commission has approved a new indication for Forsteo^® (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) for the treatment of sustained, systemic glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in adults at increased risk for fracture...

Tuesday Apr 15, 2008
Pain-Fatigue Link May Explain Why FM, CFS Are More Prevalent in Women
A biological link between pain and fatigue may help explain why more women than men are diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome...

Tuesday Apr 15, 2008
Granuloma Annulare Induced by Antitumor Necrosis Factor Therapy
Researchers found evidence of a link between TNF inhibition and the development of granuloma annulare skin lesions in some patients…

Monday Apr 14, 2008
Orencia Gets FDA Okay for JIA
Pediatric rheumatologists gained a new tool for use in treating juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Orencia^® (abatacept)...

Wednesday Apr 09, 2008
TMJ in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis May Require MRI for Diagnosis, But it Can Heal
TMJ damage in children with JIA can resolve with actual healing of the damaged condyles once the underlying disease is controlled, but MRI might be required to diagnosis the jaw disorder...

Wednesday Apr 09, 2008
Amgen Phase III Data Show Denosumab, an Inhibitor of RANK Ligand, Increased Bone Density at Multiple Skeletal Sites in Early and Later Stage Postmenopausal Women
Amgen announced results from its study in women with early and late stage postmenopausal osteoporosis that show twice-yearly subcutaneous injections of denosumab increased bone mineral density (BMD) at all sites measured...

Monday Apr 07, 2008
Analysis Finds Etanercept, Adalimumab More Cost-Effective Than Infliximab for Medicare Use
A model comparing costs and effectiveness of the biologics currently covered for treating RA in US Medicare beneficiaries has shown that etanercept (ETN) and adalimumab (ADA) are both more cost-effective than infliximab (INF)…

Friday Apr 04, 2008
Work Disability Still High in RA, But May Be Improving
More than one third of RA patients become unable to work for at least some period within 10 years’ disease duration. Of those, 39% eventually return to work, <40% blame their RA for their work disability, and work disability appears to have decreased substantially in patients with long-standing RA over the past 15 to 20 years...

Friday Apr 04, 2008
Seven New Psoriasis Risk Genes Identified
A genome-wide study has identified 7 new genes that appear to increase a person's risk for psoriasis…

Thursday Apr 03, 2008
Report Claims Clinical Trials Miss Many Populations
Women, minorities, and the elderly are underrepresented in clinical trials...

Wednesday Apr 02, 2008
New, Easy-to-Use Resting Energy Expenditure Equations for RA
Easy-to-implement new resting energy expenditure (REE) equations that take rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-induced hypermetabolism into account may help better monitor resting metabolism in RA patients without relying on sophisticated, time-consuming, and expensive indirect calorimetry…

Tuesday Apr 01, 2008
Trubion Announces SBI-087, a Fully Humanized CD20-directed Compound, as Next-Generation Product Candidate for RA and SLE; TRU-015 to Enter Phase IIb RA Clinical Trial
Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that its collaboration partner Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has filed an investigational new drug (IND) application for SBI-087 for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and clinical trial sites are preparing to enroll patients in a phase I study...

Tuesday Apr 01, 2008
Targeted Genetics Announces Completion of Dosing for Phase I/II Clinical Trial of tgAAC94 for Inflammatory Arthritis
Dosing has been completed for Targeted Genetic's phase I/II clinical trial of tgAAC94 administered directly to affected joints of subjects with inflammatory arthritis to reduce inflammation and to avoid the potential for systemic side effects...

Tuesday Apr 01, 2008
Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced MRI of Hands and Wrists in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis
Contrast-enhanced MRI demonstrates bone marrow edema, erosions, tendon and soft tissue disease, and median nerve involvement in patients with PsA of the hands and wrists…

Monday Mar 31, 2008
CRP, Anti-CCP, Ultrasound Can Predict Which RA Patients Need Early, Aggressive Treatment to Stave Off Rapid Progression
RA patients with rapidly progressing disease will benefit most from aggressive early treatment with biologics and can be identified using markers such as CRP, anti-CCP, and ultrasound evidence of joint erosion...

Tuesday Mar 25, 2008
UCB Reports That CHMP Upholds Negative Opinion on Cimzia^® (certolizumab pegol) for Crohn’s Disease
The European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has rejected UCB's appeal to have Cimzia^® (certolizumab pegol) approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease patients...

Tuesday Mar 25, 2008
New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Works for Adults, Children
Two new studies have found tocilizumab to be effective in relieving the symptoms of RA in adults and children…

Monday Mar 24, 2008
Should RA Patients Go Vegan?
A gluten-free, vegan diet may improve RA patients’ cardiovascular risk profile…

Monday Mar 24, 2008
Chronic TNF Response Sustains Inflammation but Partly Protects Bones
A newly-discovered autocrine loop in TNF-stimulated macrophages sustains expression of inflammatory mediators and sets up macrophages to respond to endogenous inflammatory factors, but may also protect bones...

Thursday Mar 20, 2008
Two-Pronged Strategy for Treating PAH in Lupus or Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Lupus or MCTD patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) should be treated with cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids, with added pulmonary vasodilators in more severe cases...

Thursday Mar 20, 2008
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Completes Enrollment in a Phase II Study of MM-093, Recombinant AFP, in Patients With RA
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc's phase II trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MM-093, a nonglycosylated, recombinant version of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has completed enrollment...

Wednesday Mar 19, 2008
Centocor, Schering-Plough Submit Marketing Authorization Application Requesting EU Approval of Golimumab to Treat RA, PsA, AS
Centocor, Inc and Schering-Plough Corp are seeking EU approval of golimumab, which targets and neutralizes both the soluble and membrane-bound forms of TNFα, to treat RA, PsA, and AS...

Tuesday Mar 18, 2008
Genzyme Reports That US Data From Large Outcome Studies of Carticel^® Support Long-Term Clinical Duration; Prior Marrow Stimulation Techniques May Compromise Treatment With Carticel
Genzyme announced that almost 90% of patients treated with Carticel who experienced improvement in knee function at an early follow-up, sustained their improvement for almost 10 years...

Monday Mar 17, 2008
More Support for WHO's FRAX Fracture Risk Assessment Tool
The International Osteoporosis Foundation hails the use of the new algorithm called FRAX^™, which is based on absolute fracture risk and takes bone mineral density (BMD) and 9 specific clinical risk factors into account to estimate a patient's 10-year fracture risk…

Friday Mar 14, 2008
Gender Bias Seen in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Doctors are more likely to recommend total knee arthroplasty to male patients than to female patients...

Wednesday Mar 12, 2008
Radial Shock Wave Therapy Relieves Heel Pain, but Cartilage Safety From Procedure is Questioned at AAOS
Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) looks promising for relieving chronic heel pain, but animal studies have raised questions about the cartilage safety from the procedure...

Wednesday Mar 12, 2008
Docs Seen as Clueless About What’s Afoot in RA
About 10% of RA patients develop some type of potentially debilitating foot ulceration, but management approaches are lagging behind…

Tuesday Mar 11, 2008
Lilly’s Forsteo^® Receives Positive Opinion From European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use to Treat Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
Eli Lilly and Co announced that they have received a positive opinion recommending approval of Forsteo^® (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in adults at increased risk for fracture...

Tuesday Mar 11, 2008
Will Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Cure Human Autoimmune Diseases?
Researchers analyzed hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as an acceptable therapy for autoimmune diseases…

Tuesday Mar 11, 2008
Gender Bias at Play in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Men are more likely than women to be recommended for total knee replacement surgery…

Monday Mar 10, 2008
AAOS Panel Presents Hip Resurfacing as Option for Some Younger Patients
Hip resurfacing may emerge as a preferred option for some younger arthritis patients...

Monday Mar 10, 2008
AAOS Debates Gender-Specific Joint Implants
Joint replacement experts say implant should fit body, not gender...

Monday Mar 10, 2008
Avoidable Hospitalizations Common Among Older, Poorer SLE Patients
Rheumatologists have a key role in preventing avoidable hospitalizations among older, poorer patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)…

Friday Mar 07, 2008
Sports Doctors Urge for More Injury Prevention in Women Athletes
Sex matters in sports injuries, and more attention to special problems of women athletes is needed...

Thursday Mar 06, 2008
Infliximab Shifts Neutrophil Fc Receptors Away From Inflammation in RA
Blocking TNFα shifts neutrophil FcγR away from types associated with easy immune activation in RA patients...

Wednesday Mar 05, 2008
AAOS Researchers Provide New Look at Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis
Steroid-induced osteonecrosis tends to resolve in SLE patients when the underlying disease is under control but tends to advance after SLE recurs. In patients with steroid-induced hip osteonecrosis, shoulder damage is likely to result in joint collapse within 15 years if not treated...

Tuesday Mar 04, 2008
Karo Bio AB, Zydus Cadila to Develop Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulators to Treat Inflammatory Diseases; Karo Reacquires Rights to SARMs From Radius 
Karo Bio AB and Zydus Cadila announced a 3-year research collaboration to discover and develop novel, selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) modulators for the treatment of inflammatory diseases...

Friday Feb 29, 2008
HLA-DRB1 Linked to Premature Cardiac Death in Some RA Patients
Patients with inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) who have the shared epitope (SE) alleles of the HLA-DRB1 gene are at increased risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and may benefit from treatment to improve their CV profile...

Friday Feb 29, 2008
Ipsen's Adenuric^® (febuxostat) for Chronic Hyperuricemia in Gout Receives Positive Opinion From CHMP; First Treatment Alternative in >40 Years if Approved by European Commission
Ipsen announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) adopted a positive opinion for Adenuric^® (febuxostat) to treat chronic hyperuricemia for conditions in which urate deposition has already occurred...

Thursday Feb 28, 2008
Adult Stem Cells Nearing Clinical Use for RA, SLE, Other Autoimmune Diseases
Adult stem cells offer a safer, less controversial approach than embryonic stem cells to treat various rheumatoid and autoimmune diseases, and are now entering randomized clinical trials...

Thursday Feb 28, 2008
Regular Aquatic Exercise Could Benefit Fibromyalgia Sufferers
Adding aquatic exercise 3 times a week to usual care for fibromyalgia may be a cost-effective strategy for improving quality of life...

Thursday Feb 28, 2008
Antitumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy and Potential Cancer Inhibition
Anti-TNFα therapy may reduce the risk of neoplasia in patients being treated for chronic inflammation...

Tuesday Feb 26, 2008
Abbott Receives FDA Approval for Humira^® (Adalimumab) for Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis; EOW Dosing
Abbott Laboratories announced it has received US FDA approval to market Humira^® (adalimumab) as a treatment to reduce signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis...

Tuesday Feb 26, 2008
ADHD Drugs Linked to Raynaud's Syndrome in Children
CNS stimulants used to treat ADHD have been linked to development of Raynaud's syndrome in children...

Monday Feb 25, 2008
Arthritis Patients Who Mix Prescription Drugs, OTC NSAIDs Report Lower Quality of Life
Mixing over-the-counter and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be putting some arthritis patients at risk, or may be a sign that current treatment is inadequate...

Monday Feb 25, 2008
New Guide Helps Predict 10-Year Fracture Risk
A new guide can help doctors evaluate fracture risk and make treatment decisions in patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis...

Friday Feb 22, 2008
EUSA Out-Licenses Preclinical Stage Human Anti-IL-6 Antibody to GSK for up to $44 Million Plus Royalties
EUSA Pharma Inc announced that it has out-licensed the exclusive worldwide rights to its preclinical-stage human anti-interleukin (IL)-6 antibody (OP-R003) to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)...

Thursday Feb 21, 2008
Women More Likely to Postpone New Knees
Women are waiting longer to undergo knee replacement surgery than men, and the delay may cause greater disability...

Thursday Feb 21, 2008
Stress Triggers TNFα Production in RA Patients—Unless They Are Taking a TNF Inhibitor
Psychological stress triggers monocyte TNFα production in RA patients, and TNFα inhibitors protect against this stress response, which may cause the disease flares often reported by patients after stressful experiences...

Thursday Feb 21, 2008
Pharmacopeia Advances Chemokine Receptor Antagonist Into Preclinical Development for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disease Indications
Pharmacopeia Inc announced the advancement of PS031291, a potent and highly selective oral antagonist at the chemokine receptor CCR1, as a preclinical development compound from its internal CCR1 discovery program...

Thursday Feb 21, 2008
Glucosamine Misses GOAL in Hip OA Study
The first major trial of glucosamine sulfate in early hip OA found that it was no better than placebo at reducing pain, improving function, or slowing progression...

Thursday Feb 21, 2008
Computer-Assisted Validation of the Synovitis Score
Researchers assessed the reliability of the synovitis score as a grading system for chronic joint diseases...

Wednesday Feb 20, 2008
Pfizer Gains Worldwide Exclusive License From Scil Technology for CD-RAP, a Novel Cartilage Growth Factor, in OA
Pfizer Inc and Scil Technology GmbH have signed a worldwide license agreement for Scil Technology's cartilage specific growth factor CD-RAP (cartilage-derived retinoic-acid-sensitive protein)...

Wednesday Feb 20, 2008
Studies of OA, Back Pain Drugs Reported at AAPM Meeting
Extended-release analgesics get top billing at AAPM meeting...

Tuesday Feb 19, 2008
RA Doubles Risk for Depression, but Rheumatologists Seldom Notice
Depression should appear on the rheumatologist's radar screen when treating patients with RA...

Thursday Feb 14, 2008
Kidney Damage Routinely Overlooked in RA Patients; Serum Cr Not an Adequate Check
Nearly half of RA patients have compromised renal function, half of whom should have their dosage adjusted because of kidney damage...

Thursday Feb 14, 2008
Celgene Reports More Positive Phase II Data on Apremilast in Psoriasis Patients; to Expand Dosing Level, Duration; Accelerate Advancement in Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, RA
Celgene Corp announced positive clinical data from a phase II study of apremilast (CC-10004), its lead orally bioavailable, small molecule inhibitor of TNF/PDE4, in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis...

Wednesday Feb 13, 2008
Hollis-Eden Initiates Phase I/II Clinical Trial With Oral Anti-Inflammatory Drug Candidate Triolexâ„¢ in UC; RA Study Planned in 2Q/08
Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that it has begun a phase I/II clinical trial with Triolexâ„¢ (HE3286), an insulin sensitizer for ulcerative colitis...

Monday Feb 11, 2008
UCB Reports US FDA to Review Cimzia® License Application for Treatment of RA
UCB announced that the US FDA agreed to accept a Biologics License Application for Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol), a PEGylated and Fc-free anti-TNFα antibody-fragment therapeutic, for the treatment of adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Monday Feb 11, 2008
Half of RA Patients in Europe Forced to Retire Early; Increasing Healthcare Costs
As many as half of all rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are forced into early retirement and must apply for disability within 10 years of disease onset; adding to the extremely high societal and economic costs of RA...

Friday Feb 08, 2008
Phase III Data Look Good for Ustekinumab (CNTO 1275) in Plaque Psoraisis
Ustekinumab (CNTO 1275), a new monoclonal antibody that blocks interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, may hold advantages over existing systemic therapies for chronic plaque psoriasis in terms of its convenience and potentially its safety...

Friday Feb 08, 2008
TNF Inhibitors, Efalizumab, Alefacept Herald New Era in Psoriasis Treatment
New treatment strategies that include TNF-α inhibitors, efalizumab, and alefacept offer better psoriasis control with less toxicity, but still need to be compared with traditional agents in clinical trials...

Thursday Feb 07, 2008
Supplement Shows Promise for Mild Knee Arthritis
A dietary supplement derived from chickens may relieve the pain in patients with mild knee arthritis...

Thursday Feb 07, 2008
Arthroscopic Debridement for Knee Osteoarthritis
Arthroscopic debridement does not appear to offer any benefit for osteoarthritis aggravated by mechanical or inflammatory causes...

Tuesday Feb 05, 2008
Inverse Relationship Between Vertebral Fractures and Spine Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis
Disc space narrowing decreases the incidence of vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis...

Tuesday Feb 05, 2008
MGH Center is a Pioneer in Knee Repair
Physicians at the Massachusetts General Hospital sports medicine center are experimenting with new techniques for joint reconstruction in athletes...

Monday Feb 04, 2008
Cochrane Review: Alendronate Safe, Effective for Secondary Fracture Prevention
Alendronate can stave off vertebral, nonvertebral, hip, and wrist fractures among postmenopausal women with low bone density and/or those with previous fractures...

Monday Feb 04, 2008
Amgen, Wyeth Report Enbrel® (etanercept) Significantly Reduced Levels of CRP, a Marker of Inflammation, in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Amgen Inc and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals announced findings from a retrospective analysis demonstrating that Enbrel® (etanercept), a fully human soluble TNF receptor, reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis...

Friday Feb 01, 2008
IL-27 Shows Promise for Treating Inflammatory Arthritis
Interleukin-27 (IL-27) can attenuate collagen-induced arthritis when given early in the disease course by blocking Th17 differentiation...

Friday Feb 01, 2008
SantoSolve Reports Topical Analgesic Phase II Study Met Primary Endpoint in Patients With Knee OA
SantoSolve AS announced positive results for 2PX, its topical analgesic formulated for subdermal pain treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee...

Wednesday Jan 30, 2008
Smoking Linked to Rheumatoid Nodules, High IgA-RF Levels in African Americans
African Americans with RA who smoke are more likely to have rheumatoid nodules and high IgA-RF levels; the risk is greatest for those who have >20-pack-years of exposure...

Tuesday Jan 29, 2008
Association Between Psoriasis and the Metabolic Syndrome
Researchers have found a possible association between psoriasis and the metabolic syndrome, and have suggested possible new treatment options for the management of psoriasis...

Tuesday Jan 29, 2008
Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Lower Production of B Cells
New findings suggest that drugs such as Enbrel®, Humira®, and Remicade® reduce activity of abnormal B-cells, benefiting the patient's immune system...

Monday Jan 28, 2008
Amgen Reports Denosumab Osteoporosis Study Met Primary and All Secondary BMD Endpoints in a Direct Comparison With Weekly Alendronate (Fosamax®)
Amgen Inc announced findings from a head-to-head, double-blind study comparing the effects of twice-yearly subcutaneous injections of denosumab versus weekly oral doses of alendronate in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density...

Monday Jan 28, 2008
Genentech, Biogen Idec, Roche Report Rituxan® (rituximab, MabThera®) Phase III Trial Meets Study Endpoints in RA; Use as First-Line Biologic Therapy Improves Symptoms 
Genentech, Inc, Biogen Idec, and Roche Pharmaceuticals announced that a pivotal phase III study of rituximab (Rituxan®) met its primary endpoint of greater proportion of biologic-naïve RA patients achieving ACR20 response at week 24, compared with placebo...

Thursday Jan 24, 2008
Bacterial Gastroenteritis Leads to Joint Pain That Seldom Needs Prescription Treatment
Patients who experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms after a bacterial outbreak are more likely to report a diagnosis of arthritis in the ensuing 4 years, but they are not likely to report needing prescription drugs for their joint pain...

Thursday Jan 24, 2008
TNFα Inhibitors Can Be Used Again After Treatment of TB Flare
TNFα inhibitors can be safely readministered after either a flare of latent TB or a new TB infection and should be considered an option in patients with otherwise uncontrollable RA...

Wednesday Jan 23, 2008
Abbott's Humira® Approved in US for Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
Abbott Laboratories announced it has received US FDA approval to market Humira® (adalimumab) for adults with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis...

Wednesday Jan 23, 2008
ZymoGenetics, Merck Serono Gain Special Protocol Assessment from US FDA for Atacicept (TACI-Ig) in General SLE
ZymoGenetics, Inc and its partner Merck Serono Intl has received agreement from the US FDA for studies that are intended to support an application for marketing authorization of atacicept in the US for the treatment of SLE...

Tuesday Jan 22, 2008
New Jersey Investigating Amgen's Marketing of a Psoriasis Drug
New Jersey's attorney general is investigating biotechnology company Amgen Inc over possible patient confidentiality law violations in their efforts to sell Enbrel®â€¦

Friday Jan 18, 2008
Bone Experts Slam New UK Limits on Osteoporosis Drugs
Some of the biggest names in osteoporosis have signed on to two papers in Bone that criticize the latest UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations on drugs for prevention of osteoporotic fractures, in essence charging that the agency gamed its analysis to cut costs for the National Health Service...

Wednesday Jan 16, 2008
Incyte Reports INCB18424, a Selective JAK2 Inhibitor, Shows Initial Positive Clinical Activity With Rapid Onset of Action in RA and Psoriasis
Incyte Corp announced positive clinical proof-of-concept results with its wholly-owned, internally developed, lead JAK2 (Janus-associated kinase 2) inhibitor, INCB18424, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis...

Wednesday Jan 16, 2008
Etanercept Clears Plaque Psoriasis in Children and Adolescents
Etanercept (Enbrel®) safely reduces disease severity in children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and improvements are evident as early as the second week of therapy...

Tuesday Jan 15, 2008
Anika Enrolls First Patient in US Clinical Study for Monoviscâ„¢ for Knee Joint Pain Relief; Expects Product Launch in Europe in First Half 2008 
Anika Therapeutics, Inc announced that it has enrolled the first patient in a multicenter pivotal study evaluating its single-injection osteoarthritis (OA) product, Monoviscâ„¢...

Tuesday Jan 15, 2008
Three More Cases of Significant Neutropenia Lead to Recommendation for Routine CBC Monitoring
Three more cases of significant neutropenia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis patients treated with etanercept lead to a recommendation for regular monitoring of complete blood counts (CBC)...

Tuesday Jan 15, 2008
Evaluation of a Quantitative Scoring of Enthesitis in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Researchers assessed the validity of an enthesitis index calculated by algometric pressure pain threshold scoring...

Monday Jan 14, 2008
8-Week Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program Improves Pain and Fatigue
The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, formerly called People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE), can safely get older, sedentary arthritis patients up off the couch, a new study shows...

Friday Jan 11, 2008
Localized Strength Training Rx for Neck Pain
Strength training exercises focusing on the neck and shoulder muscles can help relieve chronic neck pain among female workers with trapezius myalgia...

Friday Jan 11, 2008
Earlier Knee Replacement Urged for Women With OA
Women wait until much later in the osteoarthritis disease process to have total knee arthroplasty, and this delay may be jeopardizing functional recovery...

Friday Jan 11, 2008
aRigel Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of JAK3 Inhibitor R348 for RA, Psoriasis, and Other Immune Disorders 
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that it has initiated the enrollment of patients in a phase I clinical study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of R348, an orally bioavailable, potent (<100 nM) and selective inhibitor of Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) as a potential treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other immune disorders...

Thursday Jan 10, 2008
SC Beats Oral Methotrexate for RA
Starting treatment with subcutaneous (SC) methotrexate (MTX) is significantly more effective than starting with oral MTX in patients with active, early RA...

Wednesday Jan 09, 2008
Personalized Exercise Prescriptions Warranted in RA
Individually-tailored exercise programs taking a patient's specific needs and abilities into account should become a standard part of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Such programs can help reverse joint damage and reduce cardiovascular risk factors in this population...

Monday Jan 07, 2008
Abbott's Humira® Approved in the EU for Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Abbott announced it has received marketing authorization from the European Commission for the use of the TNF antagonist Humira® (adalimumab) as a treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Humira is the first fully human, self-injectable biologic for the treatment of psoriasis...

Thursday Jan 03, 2008
Step-Down Therapy With Steroids is Feasible and Effective in Early RA
Step-down therapy for early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) including oral prednisolone is not just feasible in daily practice, it is also more effective than a step-up regimen...

Wednesday Jan 02, 2008
Experts Question Use of TNF Blockers for Sciatica Caused by Disc Herniation
The jury is still out on whether TNF-blockers have a role in treating sciatica induced by disc herniation...

Friday Dec 21, 2007
Galapagos to Collaborate With Lilly in OA and to Receive Milestone Payment of €7.5 Million in OA Alliance with GSK
Galapagos NV, an integrated drug discovery company with preclinical programs in bone and joint diseases, announced that it has entered into a global collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Co to develop a novel class of medicines with potential to stimulate bone formation for the treatment of osteoarthritis...

Thursday Dec 20, 2007
OARSI Researchers Further Refine Matrix-Associated Cartilage Repair Techniques
Matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation continues to improve as a way of repairing arthritis knees, and MRI can be used to check the quality of the repaired tissue...

Thursday Dec 20, 2007
RA Patients Have Doubled Risk of Shingles, and Many RA Drugs Increase Risk Even More

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients show a two-fold increased risk for herpes zoster (shingles) compared with their counterparts without RA, and the most commonly used RA drugs increase the risk even more...

Thursday Dec 20, 2007
New EULAR Recommendations on Systemic Glucocorticoids Stress Monitoring for Adverse Events
EULAR has issued new evidence-based recommendations on the management of systemic glucocorticoid therapy in rheumatic diseases...

Wednesday Dec 19, 2007
Synovitis, Effusion, Bone Marrow Lesions Tagged As Modifiable Factors in Knee Pain
Knee pain fluctuation correlates with changes in several modifiable MRI features: synovitis, effusion, and bone marrow lesions...

Tuesday Dec 18, 2007
Amgen's Pivotal Phase III Data Show Denosumab With Twice-Yearly Dosing Increased BMD Throughout Skeleton in Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer Patients on Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy; Study Met All Primary and Secondary Endpoints
Amgen Inc announced that pivotal phase III data show that denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, a key mediator of the resorptive phase of bone remodeling, increased bone mineral density throughout the skeleton in nonmetastatic breast cancer patients on adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy...

Tuesday Dec 18, 2007
Rigel's Oral Syk Kinase Inhibitor, R788 (tamatinib fosdium), Achieves Statistically Significant ACR-20, -50, -70 in Phase II RA Clinical Study; Achieves Effect As Early As 1 Week
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that its oral syk kinase inhibitor, R788 (tamatinib fosdium), has demonstrated statistically significant results in treating rheumatoid arthritis patients in a recently completed phase II clinical trial...

Monday Dec 17, 2007
Pain in Knees with Meniscal Damage is Due to OA
Knee pain in middle-aged and older adults who have meniscal damage is due to the  osteoarthritis (OA) that often develops in such knees, not to pain from the torn meniscus...

Friday Dec 14, 2007
New Kid on the Block: Everolimus Looks Promising as Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
A "proof-of-concept" study shows that the immunosuppressant everolimus may be an effective addition to MTX for rheumatoid arthritis patients whose disease is only partly MTX-responsive...

Thursday Dec 13, 2007
Pediatric Arthritis Causes 827,000 Physician Visits Per Year
Over 290,000 children suffer from pediatric arthritis or other serious rheumatologic conditions and require an average of 827,000 ambulatory healthcare visits per year, which places a significant burden on the health care system...

Thursday Dec 13, 2007
MRI Bone Edema Shows Differences, Similarities in RA and OA
MRI bone edema predicts radiographic progression in RA and correlates with pain in OA...

Wednesday Dec 12, 2007
 New Hips Keep on Keeping On
The benefits of total hip arthroplasty on physical function are substantial and long-lasting especially in osteoarthritis (OA) patients with more pronounced X-ray damage...

Wednesday Dec 12, 2007
Ferring's Euflexxaâ„¢ (1% sodium hyaluronate) is Effective in Treating Knee OA and Reduces Pain that Interferes with ADLs; Shows Equal Effectiveness in Disease Stages Two and Three
Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced the results of two clinical studies on the efficacy of Euflexxaâ„¢, an intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) for the relief of pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA)...

Tuesday Dec 11, 2007
Pain Therapeutics', King's Remoxyâ„¢ Meets Primary Endpoint in Pivotal Phase III Study in OA Patients with Chronic Pain; NDA Filing Expected in Mid-2008
Pain Therapeutics, Inc and King Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that a pivotal phase III study of Remoxyâ„¢, an abuse-deterrent version of long-acting oxycodone, in osteoarthritis patients with chronic pain met the primary endpoint that was prospectively defined by the US FDA during the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) process...

Tuesday Dec 11, 2007
Identification of Two New Ankylosing Spondylitis Genes Suggest Novel Therapeutic Targets
Genome scans have identified two of the suspected handful of non-MHC genes that appear to collaborate with HLA-B27 in "turning on" disease processes that result in ankylosing spondylitis and other seronegative arthropathies...

Friday Dec 07, 2007
Pfizer, Adolor Enter Into Exclusive Worldwide Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize Delta Opioid Receptor Agonists to Treat Range of Inflammatory, Neuropathic, and Acute Pain

Pfizer Inc and Adolor Corp, a leader in the area of novel, opioid receptor-targeted therapeutics, announced an exclusive worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialize delta opioid receptor agonist candidates, ADL5859 and ADL5747, for the treatment of pain...

Thursday Dec 06, 2007
Medarex Announces Acceptance by US FDA of IND Application for Wholly-Owned Fully Human Anti-CD19 Antibody, MDX-1342, for Phase I Clinical Study for RA
Medarex, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of fully human antibody-based therapeutics, announced the allowance of an investigational new drug application filed with the US FDA for MDX-1342 for rheumatoid arthritis...

Thursday Dec 06, 2007
 Drug Update: Rituximab
Repeat rituximab was notably effective in patients with DMARD-resistant RA, and the B-cell depleting agent is being tested in pediatric SLE and in Sjögren's syndrome...

Wednesday Dec 05, 2007
Drug Update: Infliximab
Researchers offer advice on reducing infliximab infusion times in RA, predicting who will respond, and what to expect in patients with ankylosing spondylitis...

Monday Dec 03, 2007
Low Vitamin D Linked to Knee OA Pain, Difficulty Walking
Vitamin D-deficient knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients are more likely to have higher levels of pain and three times more likely to report difficulty walking, compared with their counterparts with higher blood levels of this vitamin...

Monday Dec 03, 2007
Targeted Genetics Announces That US FDA Removed Hold on Phase I/II Clinical Trial of tgAAC94 for Inflammatory Arthritis; Phase II Clinical Trial Protocol Design Underway

Targeted Genetics Corp announced that the US FDA removed the hold on the company's phase I/II clinical trial of tgACC94 for inflammatory arthritis, following the agency's review of the safety data thus far on all 127 subjects and all data from a fatal serious adverse event, which led to the death of a patient...

Friday Nov 30, 2007
Drug Update: Abatacept
Researchers continue to argue for the cost-effectiveness of abatacept in treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis, but a real-world analysis raises questions about responses in routine clinical use. Safety data show no increased risk of malignancies or infection...

Thursday Nov 29, 2007
Osiris Announces Clinically and Statistically Significant 1-Year Data From Phase I/II Trial of Chondrogenâ„¢; OA Knee Patients Receive Single Injection of Adult Stem Cells Into Knee
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc, a leading stem cell therapeutic company, announced positive 1-year interim results in the evaluation of Chondrogenâ„¢, a preparation of mesenchymal stem cells obtained from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors and formulated for direct injection into the knee...

Wednesday Nov 28, 2007
Update on Joint Replacement
Total joint replacement has reduced pain and disability in elderly patients with arthritis. The procedure is cost-effective even for high-risk patients, but it is associated with higher risk for cardiac complications if both joints are replaced during the same procedure, and it might be chosen by more African-American patients if finances were less of an issue...

Wednesday Nov 28, 2007
MedImmune Initiates First Phase I Trial of an Anti-GM-CSFR Monoclonal Antibody in Patients With RA
MedImmune, Inc announced that dosing of patients has begun in the first phase I clinical trial of CAM-3001, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the alpha subunit of the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor. The study is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single doses of CAM-3001 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis...

Monday Nov 26, 2007
Abatacept Wins Plaudits in Refractory JIA
The costimulation blocker abatacept may be a safe and effective option for juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients who have exhausted all other therapies...

Wednesday Nov 21, 2007
Combining MTX or Other DMARD With Biologic Seen as Best Strategy for MTX-Resistant Rheumatoid Arthritis
A systematic review of head-to-head trials and prospective cohort studies found little difference among either conventional DMARDs or anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs used as monotherapy, but suggests that adding a conventional DMARD to a biologic may be the best strategy for MTX-resistant RA...

Wednesday Nov 21, 2007
Researchers "Shocked" at Enbrel's Efficacy in JRA
Etanercept (Enbrel®) is safe and effective in the long-term treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), according to new 8-year outcome data...

Tuesday Nov 20, 2007
Abbott's Humira® Receives Positive Opinion From EMEA for Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis 
Abbott Laboratories announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), granted Abbott a positive opinion recommending approval of Humira® (adalimumab) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis...

Monday Nov 19, 2007
TNF-Blocker Plus MTX Slashes Heart Risk in RA
Combination therapy with a TNF-inhibitor plus MTX slashes heart attack risk by 80% in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients...

Monday Nov 19, 2007
Early Surgery Trumps Steroids for Long-Term Outcomes in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 
Decompression surgery is three times more effective than local corticosteroid injections for primary carpal syndrome...

Monday Nov 19, 2007
UCB Reports that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has Denied Market Authorization in the EU for Cimzia® to Treat Crohn's Disease; UCB to Appeal
UCB Pharma SA announced that it has been informed by the European Medicines Agency that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has rejected a marketing authorization in the EU for Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) for reducing signs and symptoms and maintaining clinical response in patients with severe, active Crohn's disease...

Friday Nov 16, 2007
Certolizumab Induces Faster Responses in RA
Thirty percent of RA patients treated with certolizumab plus MTX reached ACR20 within the first week of treatment; 50% reached ACR20 within 2 weeks...

Thursday Nov 15, 2007
New Rheumatoid Arthritis B-Cell Depletor Advances in Phase II Trials
The experimental B-cell depleting small modular immunopharmaceutical (SMIP), TRU-015 has promising safety and efficacy trials in phase II RA data reported at the American College of Rheumatology...

Thursday Nov 15, 2007
Response to RA Therapy in First 3 Months Predicts Chance of Remission at 1 Year
Rheumatoid arthritis disease activity during the first 3 months of treatment predicts response at 1 year, and even partial response may "reset the baseline" for subsequent treatment...

Wednesday Nov 14, 2007
Trubion Reports Data From Phase IIb and Re-Treatment Studies With TRU-015 in RA Patients 
Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc, a biopharmaceutical company creating a pipeline of product candidates to treat autoimmune disease and cancer, announced that TRU-015, its lead Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical drug candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), provided statistically significant efficacy after a single infusion of 800 mg or 1600 mg compared with placebo for a 24-week period...

Tuesday Nov 13, 2007
Single Botulinum Toxin Injection Smooths Out OA Shoulder Pain

A single intra-articular injection of botulinum toxin type A relieved shoulder pain for a month in patients with refractory OA...

Tuesday Nov 13, 2007
Anti-IL-12/23 Monoclonal Produces Dramatic Results in Psoriatic Arthritis
The anti-IL-12/23 monoclonal antibody ustekinumab produced dramatic, durable improvements in psoriatic arthritis, according to phase II data reported at the American College of Rheumatology...

Tuesday Nov 13, 2007
Targeted Genetics Reports Positive Interim Phase I/II Results for tgAAC94 in Inflammatory Arthritis; Tests Indicate tgAAC94 Did Not Contribute to Immunosuppression Leading to Fatal SAE
Targeted Genetics Corp, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced that interim data from its phase I/II trial of tgAAC94 for inflammatory arthritis suggest that the investigational therapy showed improvement in patient-reported outcome measures...

Tuesday Nov 13, 2007
Infliximab Adds Little to Combined DMARDs for Early RA--Unless You're Fat
Obesity halves an RA patient's chance of remission with conventional combination DMARD treatment, but adding infliximab can overcome this problem...

Monday Nov 12, 2007
Rheumatologists Need to Be More Shoe Savvy
Clogs and stability shoes are good for the feet but not the knees of patients with knee OA...

Monday Nov 12, 2007
Rheumatologists Optimistic About IL-6 Blocker Tocilizumab
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) blocker tocilizumab is safe, effective, and improves quality of life for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients...

Monday Nov 12, 2007
Biogen Idec's Baminercept, the First Lymphotoxin-β Pathway Inhibitor in Development, Shows Promise in Phase IIa Trial in RA Patients; Phase IIb Underway 
Biogen Idec announced results from its phase IIa trial of baminercept, the first dual-mechanism, lymphotoxin-β (LT-β) and LIGHT pathway inhibitor in development for the treatment of autoimmune diseases...

Saturday Nov 10, 2007
More Fallout From the COX-2 Debacle: Increasing Rates of Serious GI Complications

Physicians need to be more vigilant about prescribing proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to their arthritis patients who take traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), because the number of serious gastrointestinal complications is on the rise since the COX-2 drugs fell from grace...

Friday Nov 09, 2007
Efalizumab Suspected of Triggering Arthritis in Subset of Psoriasis Patients
A small subset of patients treated with efalizumab for severe plaque psoriasis developed new-onset psoriatic arthritis...

Friday Nov 09, 2007
RA Increases Stroke Risk Nearly as Much as Does Hypertension
RA is an independent risk factor for stroke and increases stroke risk nearly as much as having hypertension...

Friday Nov 09, 2007
RA Ages and Taxes the Heart
 More than half of 50 to 59 year olds newly diagnosed with RA and those >e;60 years have a >e;10% risk of developing heart disease within the next 10 years. Cardiovascular risk reduction strategies are recommended...

Thursday Nov 08, 2007
Centocor, Schering-Plough's Anti-TNF Golimumab Significantly Improved Articular, Skin, and Nail Manifestations in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis in Phase III Study; Met Primary and Major Secondary Endpoints
Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced that patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving monthly subcutaneous injections of golimumab experienced significant and sustained improvements in the joint and skin manifestations of the disease, according to findings from the largest phase III biologic study (GO-REVEAL trial) in PsA subjects...

Thursday Nov 08, 2007
Centocor, Schering-Plough's Anti-TNF Golimumab Significantly Reduced Signs and Symptoms of AS in Phase III Study; Monthly Treatment Yielded Marked Improvements in Physical Function
Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced that more than half of patients receiving monthly subcutaneous injections of golimumab 50 mg and 100 mg experienced significant and sustained improvements in the signs and symptoms of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to the phase III study (GO-RAISE trial) results...

Thursday Nov 08, 2007
Serum Uric Acid May Be Independent Risk Factor in RA Cardiovascular Disease
Elevated serum uric acid, a potentially modifiable problem, may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with RA...

Thursday Nov 08, 2007
Half of RA Patients Might Reach Remission With Early, Aggressive Use of Conventional DMARDs
If inflammatory arthritis is detected early and treated vigorously, remission is a possibility for 50% of patients...

Tuesday Nov 06, 2007
Cytokine PharmaSciences Develops Orally Active Form of Semapimod, a Raf Kinase Inhibitor, for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases; Seeks Partner
Cytokine PharmaSciences Inc, a privately-held, global biopharmaceutical company, announced development of an orally active form of semapimod, its anti-inflammatory cytokine compound...

Tuesday Nov 06, 2007
Flu Shots Work for Patients on TNF-Inhibitors
TNF inhibitors reduce response to influenza vaccination, but about 80% of RA patients still develop protective titers after a single vaccine dose...

Monday Nov 05, 2007
Lab-on-a-Chip Promises Fast Profile of RA Patients' Autoantibodies
A new technique promises fast, inexpensive serum antibody profiling in RA patients without the need for fluorescent labeling or preprocessing...

Friday Nov 02, 2007
Strontium Ranelate May Slow Osteoarthritis Progression
The osteoporosis drug strontium ranelate (Protelos®) may stop or slow the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and also might alleviate back pain...

Thursday Nov 01, 2007
Low-Dose Glucocorticoids Halve Risk of Treatment-Limiting Infliximab Infusion Reactions

Treatment-limiting infliximab infusion reactions were significantly less frequent in RA patients who were also taking low-dose glucocorticoids...

Thursday Nov 01, 2007
Few Remissions From Switching to Other DMARDs After MTX Failure
If initial MTX fails to produce remission in RA, adding or switching to other conventional DMARDs is also unlikely to produce remissions...

Wednesday Oct 31, 2007
Coley Initiates Phase I Study of First-in-Class TLR Antagonist, CPG 52364, for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 
Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Inc, an international biopharmaceutical company having a pipeline of Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) therapeutic product candidates, announced that it has dosed its first subject in a phase I study of its novel, orally-available TLR Therapeutic drug candidate for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)...

Tuesday Oct 30, 2007
Mayo Clinic Researchers Report Disheartening Data on RA Mortality

Despite earlier diagnoses and a plethora of new drugs, RA patients are living no longer today than they were 40 years ago and are falling ever farther behind the survival curve of the general population...

Tuesday Oct 30, 2007
Novartis' Voltaren® (diclofenac) Gel Receives FDA Approval as First Topical NSAID Prescription Treatment for OA Pain of the Knees and Hands 
Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG announced that Voltaren® Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel) 1% has received US FDA regulatory approval as the first topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prescription treatment for use in treating pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in joints amenable to topical treatment...

Friday Oct 26, 2007
Rituximab May "Reboot" Immune System in Some Lupus Patients

A subgroup of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients treated with rituximab to deplete B-cells have delayed recovery of memory B-cells in addition to a prolonged response, suggesting that treatment helps "reboot" the immune system...

Thursday Oct 25, 2007
Galápagos, Janssen Form Global Alliance to Develop Oral Small Molecule Therapeutics for Multiple Targets in RA 
Galápagos NV, a drug discovery company with clinical and preclinical programs in bone and joint diseases, announced that it has entered into a worldwide multitarget alliance with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Thursday Oct 25, 2007
Systematic Review: Few Signs of Tai Chi Efficacy in RA 
Tai chi exercise is often recommended for patients with arthritis, including RA, but a systematic review finds little evidence that it is effective...

Wednesday Oct 24, 2007
GSK and Tolerx Form Worldwide Collaboration for Development and Commercialization of Otelixizumab (TRX4) for T-Cell Mediated Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
GlaxoSmithKline and Tolerx, Inc announced a worldwide alliance to develop and commercialize otelixizumab (TRX4), a novel humanized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody that has potential across a broad range of T-cell mediated autoimmune and inflammatory diseases including psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis...

Monday Oct 22, 2007
Hollis-Eden Reports Positive Data Demonstrating That Anti-Inflammatory Agent HE3286 (Triolex^TM) Provides Benefit in Animal Models of Ulcerative Colitis and RA; Will Initiate Phase I/II Clinical Study in RA
Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a company focused on the development of a proprietary new class of small molecules that are metabolites or synthetic analogs of endogenous adrenal steroid hormones, announced additional data on drug candidate HE3286 (Triolex^TM), an orally active, second generation, synthetic 17-ethynyl derivative of the steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), currently in preclinical and clinical study for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders...

Friday Oct 19, 2007
First CDC Study to Find That 33% of Adults With Arthritis Report Reduced Ability to Work
Arthritis accounts for up to 15% of lost work days in some states, and a median 33% of adults with arthritis report reduced ability to work...

Friday Oct 19, 2007
Lilly Acquires Exclusive Rights to MacroGenics' Humanized Anti-CD3 Monoclonal Antibody and Will Collaborate to Develop Autoimmune Disease Treatments
Eli Lilly and Co and MacroGenics, Inc have entered into a global strategic alliance to develop and commercialize teplizumab (MGA031 or hOKT3γ1(Ala-Ala)), a humanized, non-Fc receptor binding, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, as well as other potential next generation anti-CD3 molecules, for use in the treatment of multiple T–cell-mediated autoimmune diseases...

Thursday Oct 18, 2007
Coxibs, NSAIDs Have Little Effect on MI Risk
A review of data from RCTs and observational studies found low MI risk with either coxibs or NSAIDs (highest with rofecoxib), and significantly fewer serious upper GI events with coxibs...

Wednesday Oct 17, 2007
Acupuncture Cuts Postop Pain, Opioid Use
Acupuncture should be considered an option for postop pain control among patients after orthopaedic surgery...

Wednesday Oct 17, 2007
Horizon Initiates Long-Term Phase III Safety Study for GI-friendly NSAID, HZT-501
Horizon Therapeutics, Inc, a privately-held, late-stage biopharmaceutical company, has initiated a phase III follow-on safety study (HZ-CA-304) of its lead product candidate HZT-501, an investigational prescription NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) designed to be "GI-friendly"...

Tuesday Oct 16, 2007
Combination Therapy is Better for RA Patients Who Partially Responded to Long-term Monotherapy
Many RA patients who have partial responses to long-term etanercept or methotrexate monotherapy can be put into remission by combining these drugs...

Monday Oct 15, 2007
Enlarging Bone Marrow Lesions Add to Knee Pain

Research shows that new onset knee pain was strongly linked with an increase of two or more units in bone marrow lesions...

Thursday Oct 11, 2007
Review Rejects "Chronic Lyme Disease" Diagnosis, Extended IV Antibiotics
A major review challenges "chronic Lyme disease" as a valid diagnosis and warns against extended use of IV antibiotics...

Thursday Oct 11, 2007
IL-1ra Gene Therapy Stops Intervertebral Disc Degradation, Explant Study Shows
An in vitro study shows that IL-1 receptor antagonist delivered either directly or by gene therapy can inhibit matrix degradation in human intervertebral disc...

Wednesday Oct 10, 2007
Health Canada Withdraws Market Authorization for Prexige® (Lumiracoxib), Novartis' COX-2 Inhibitor for Osteoarthritis

Health Canada, the federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, has advised consumers that it has stopped the sale of the anti-inflammatory drug Prexige® (lumiracoxib) and will cancel the drug's market authorization due to potential serious liver-related adverse events (hepatitis)...

Tuesday Oct 09, 2007
TNF Inhibitors Not Better Than DMARDs for Cardiac Protection in RA
TNF inhibitors are not better than traditional DMARDs at preventing MI in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but lower heart attack rates in those who respond to TNF-blockers support the hypothesis that inflammation plays a role in the increased MI risk associated with RA...

Monday Oct 01, 2007
Novartis' COX-2 Inhibitor Prexige® Deemed "Not Approvable" by US FDA; Discussions with FDA to Continue 
Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG announced that it has received a "not approvable" letter from the US FDA for its COX-2 inhibitor Prexige® (lumiracoxib) as a once-daily treatment for patients suffering from pain due to osteoarthritis...

Monday Oct 01, 2007
Vigorous Exercise May Benefit Knees
Breaking a sweat while exercising at least once a week for around 20 minutes may stave off the development of knee osteoarthritis...

Wednesday Sep 26, 2007
Doctors Urged to Look Out for High Blood Pressure in RA Patients
More than 70% of RA patients have high blood pressure, many go untreated, and those on steroids should receive special scrutiny…

Wednesday Sep 26, 2007

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Begins Phase II, Dose-Finding Trial of Cobiprostone, a Chloride-Channel Activator, for the Prevention of NSAID-Induced Ulcers in Arthritis Patients

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc, announced that it has enrolled the first patient in a multicenter, phase II, dose-finding trial evaluating the prostone cobiprostone (SPI-8811) for the prevention of ulcers and other gastrointestinal injuries in arthritis patients treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)...

Monday Sep 24, 2007
Risk of Infection in TNF-Inhibitor Treatment May Be Higher Than Thought

A new analysis of data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register suggests that the risk of serious infection is increased during certain phases of TNF-inhibitor treatment...

Thursday Sep 20, 2007
Targeted Genetics Provides Update on its Inflammatory Arthritis Phase I/II Trial on Clinical Hold Following Patient Death; Data To Date Does Not Implicate Study Agent
Targeted Genetics Corp, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, reported on the public hearing conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recombinant DNA advisory committee (RAC), which reviewed the serious adverse event (SAE) reported by Targeted surrounding the death of a patient participating in the company's phase I/II trial of tgAAC94 for inflammatory arthritis...

Thursday Sep 20, 2007
Researchers Identify Additional RA, SLE Genes
Genetics researchers report a new variant on chromosome 9 associated with anti-CCP-positive RA and a mutation of STAT4 on chromosome 2q associated with both RA and lupus...

Wednesday Sep 19, 2007
Anticytokine Shots May Aid Healing Following Knee Injuries
Shooting TNF inhibitors or IL-1 blockers directly into the joint may help promote healing following meniscal tears…McNulty AL, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:doi:10.1002/art [Epub ahead of print].

Monday Sep 17, 2007
Anesiva Initiates New Phase II Trial of Adleaâ„¢ for Pain Relief Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
Anesiva, Inc, a publicly-held, late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic treatments for pain management, announced that it has initiated a new phase II study of Adleaâ„¢, a long-acting, nonopiate TRPV1 agonist, for the relief of postoperative pain in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA)...

Thursday Sep 13, 2007
Hormone Therapy Does Not Worsen Lupus But May Increase Thrombosis Risk
Menopause hormonal therapy does not worsen lupus disease activity or trigger disease flares but may add to an already high risk of thrombosis in women with SLE...

Wednesday Sep 12, 2007
Trubion's Preliminary Analysis of Phase IIb Results With Immunotherapeutic TRU-015 Show Improvements in RA Signs and Symptoms Compared With Placebo
Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company creating product candidates to treat autoimmune disease and cancer, announced preliminary analysis of results from a phase IIb randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial of its TRU-015 immunotherapeutic product candidate for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Tuesday Sep 11, 2007
Synovio-Entheseal Complex Seen As Key to Psoriatic Arthritis, Spondylarthropathies
The synovio-entheseal complex (SEC), where the enthesis and synovium come together in a synovial joint, links joint damage and innate immune activation leading to joint inflammation...McGonagle D, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2482-2491.

Monday Sep 10, 2007
Jury Out on Whether Surgical Repair of ACL Tears Staves Off OA

Little convincing evidence supports surgical repair of the anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus as a way of preventing OA, but the problem may lie in the way the studies have been done, not in the surgery…Lohmander LS, et al. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Aug 29; doi: 10.1177/0363546507307396 [Epub ahead of print].

Thursday Sep 06, 2007
Knee Monoarthritis May Be a Harbinger of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Mild-to-moderate knee monoarthritis may be an early warning sign of non-small-cell lung cancer in heavy smokers...

Wednesday Sep 05, 2007
Rheumatologists Asked to Take Lead in Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in RA Patients
The chronic inflammation that characterizes many rheumatoid diseases is thought to be one cause of the higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) that afflicts these patients. Experts say not enough is being done to educate patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) about the importance of early CV protection, and that early education is critical—before clinically apparent CVD is detectable...van Leuven SI, et al. Rheumatology. 2007; rheumatology/kem202 [Epub ahead of print]; John H, et al. Rheumatology. 2007; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kem176 [Epub ahead of print].

Tuesday Sep 04, 2007
New Restrictions on Prescribing Prexige® (lumiracoxib) in the EU
The UK (United Kingdom) Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reported that Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG has informed doctors in Europe of new restrictions on prescribing its COX-2 anti-inflammatory osteoarthritis (OA) drug Prexige^R (lumiracoxib), including regular liver function monitoring both before and during treatment...

Friday Aug 31, 2007
Pulse IVMP Treatment May Decline With the Advent of New Lupus Therapies
Intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) still plays an important role in treating acute flares among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but its role in acute flares and long-term treatment of lupus nephritis and of nonrenal lupus manifestations may require reevaluation as new treatments become available…Parker BJ, et al. Lupus. 2007;16(6):387-393.

Friday Aug 31, 2007
TNF Inhibitors Raise Risk for Skin Cancers But Not Other Malignancies
The final report from a large observational study of more than 13,000 patients clears TNF inhibitors of increasing the incidence of solid tumors or lymphomas but finds that TNF-inhibitor treatment is associated with a significant increase in melanomas and other skin cancers…Wolfe F, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2886-2895.

Tuesday Aug 28, 2007
Systematic Review Finds No Benefit From Selenium or Vitamins A, C in Arthritis; Raises Methodological Questions About Studies Showing Benefit From Vitamin E
Antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, sometimes combined with selenium, have been widely touted as beneficial for the treatment of arthritis, but a systematic review finds little convincing evidence of efficacy...

Tuesday Aug 28, 2007
New Zealand Regulatory Authority, Medsafe, Revokes Consents for Prexige® 200 mg and 400 mg Tablets; Novartis Issues Recall Notice 
The Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, Medsafe, has revoked the consents allowing the supply in New Zealand of the COX-2 anti-inflammatory medicine Prexige (lumiracoxib) 200 mg and 400 mg tablets on the grounds that the tablets can no longer be administered or used safely for the purposes indicated in the regulatory application for consent...

Tuesday Aug 28, 2007
Diseased Blood Vessels in the Bone May Cause or Aggravate OA
Vascular pathology may play a role in the pathogenesis or progression of osteoarthritis…Findlay DM. Rheumatology. 2007; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kem191 [Epub ahead of print].

Tuesday Aug 28, 2007
Interleukin Genetics Collaborates With NYU Medical Center to Evaluate Genetic Patterns Associated With IL-1β Overproduction and Development of Polyarticular OA
Interleukin Genetics, a genetics-focused personalized health company, announced today that it has initiated a study on the genetics of osteoarthritis (OA) in collaboration with the Hospital for Joint Diseases of New York University Medical Center...

Monday Aug 27, 2007
Harkness Dance Medicine Head Urges Clinicians to Prepare for the "High School Musical 2" Generation

Musicals are back, dance classes are filled, clinicians are facing more dancers or former dancers with musculoskeletal problems, and dance medicine experts are urging clinicians to heed the beat of dancing feet...

Thursday Aug 23, 2007
Roche Announces NICE Approves MabThera® (rituximab) for Patients With Severe RA
Roche Products Ltd  announced that the independent organization NICE has issued final guidance to the NHS approving the use of MabThera^R (rituximab), in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults...

Thursday Aug 23, 2007
NICE Issues Positive Appraisal of Abbott's Humira® (adalimumab) for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis in UK Patient Population 
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published final guidance on the use of Humira® (adalimumab, Abbott Laboratories), a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to TNF-a, for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA)...

Wednesday Aug 22, 2007
PsA Patients May Benefit From Statin Therapy
New research linking PsA with subclinical atherosclerosis may point to a potential role for statin therapy in these patients…Gonzalez-Juanatey C, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;57:1074-1080.

Monday Aug 20, 2007
Three New Studies Investigate How—Or Even If—Race and Ethnicity Affect Arthritis
CIAOMed takes an in-depth look at current research on the relationship between race, ethnicity, and arthritis...

Monday Aug 20, 2007
Oral Glucosamine Sulphate Reaches Blood, Joints in Levels That Might Be Bioactive
Oral glucosamine sulphate is bioavailable in the blood and the joints…Persiani S, et al. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007;15;764-772.

Thursday Aug 16, 2007
Even Moderate Exercise Improves Outcomes in JIA
Two new studies document diminished aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity in children and teens with JIA and show that even moderate exercise can markedly improve outcomes...

Tuesday Aug 14, 2007
Novartis Withdraws Lumiracoxib (Prexige®) in Australia in Response to Decision From Therapeutic Goods Administration to Cancel Registration
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd announced the immediate recall of all doses (100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg tablets) of lumiracoxib (Prexige®), a COX-2 inhibitor for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and acute pain...

Tuesday Aug 14, 2007
Xencor's XProâ„¢1595, a Dominant-Negative Inhibitor of Soluble TNFα, Demonstrates Target Selectivity and Attenuates Experimental Arthritis Without Suppressing Innate Immunity to Infection 
Xencor, Inc, a company developing protein and antibody therapeutics, announced positive preclinical data for XProâ„¢1595 DN-TNFâ„¢, a highly selective, dominant-negative (DN) inhibitor of soluble TNFα and a first-in-class protein therapeutic drug candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Monday Aug 13, 2007
Can B-Cell Depletion With Rituximab Trigger Psoriasis?
New case studies linking rituximab therapy for RA and SLE with new-onset psoriasis may call for caution on the ever-expanding use of the B-cell depleting drug...Dass S, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2715-2718.

Monday Aug 13, 2007
Hydroxychloroquine May Stave Off Lupus Onset
A provocative study suggests that giving hydroxychloroquine to lupus patients at the first symptom may delay or even prevent the development of full-blown SLE…James J, et al. Lupus. 2007;16:401-409.

Thursday Aug 09, 2007
Does Collagen Stimulate Its Own Degradation in OA Joints?
Chondrocytes are exposed to collagen in OA cartilage but not in normal joints. This process appears to trigger DDR-2-mediated expression of enzymes that further degrade collagen and add to joint destruction...Xu L et al, and Sandell LJ. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;2663-2673 and 2474-2477.

Thursday Aug 09, 2007
Calcitonin Study Heightens Interest in Antiresorptive Agents to Prevent OA Joint Damage
Calcitonin prevents the development of OA in an animal model and adds to evidence that antiresorptive agents can protect both cartilage and bone...

Wednesday Aug 08, 2007
Bristol-Myers Squibb's Orencia® (abatacept) Supplemental Biologics License Application for JIA Accepted by US FDA for Filing and Review
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co announced that the US FDA has accepted the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for filing and review of Orencia® (abatacept) to treat pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate (MTX) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists...

Wednesday Aug 08, 2007
Many OA Patients Willing to Accept Vioxx-Level GI, Heart, Stroke Risk in Exchange for Pain Relief
The first study to ask OA patients how much risk of adverse effects they were willing to accept for a 20% or 50% reduction in pain finds that most are willing to accept additional risk of gastric bleeding, heart attack, or stroke...Richardson CG, et al. J Rheumatol. 2007;34:1569-1575.

Tuesday Aug 07, 2007
Medarex Announces Initiation by Licensing Partner Novartis of Phase III Clinical Trial for Muckle-Wells Syndrome, a Rare Inherited Autoinflammatory Disease
Medarex, Inc announced that Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG has advanced ACZ885, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β (IL-1 β), to a phase III clinical trial for Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), an inherited systemic autoinflammatory disease...

Thursday Aug 02, 2007
Stem Cell Transplants Offer Hope for Children With Severe, Refractory JIA
Intensive immunosuppression followed by T-cell-depleted autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation offers refractory JIA patients a chance for remission, but is it worth the risks?…Brinkman DMC, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2410-2421.

Thursday Aug 02, 2007
FDA Stops Arthritis Gene Therapy Trial After Patient Dies
CIAOMed takes an in-depth look into what went wrong in the inflammatory arthritis gene therapy trial that resulted in a patient's death and what this incident may mean for the future of gene trials, particularly in arthritis...

Thursday Aug 02, 2007
TNF Inhibitors May Restore Adrenal Function in RA
TNF inhibitors appear to improve adrenal function in some RA patients, resulting in restoration of stable hormonal homeostasis...

Monday Jul 30, 2007
Can Vitamin D Help Treat RA?
Low vitamin D levels linked to more severe inflammatory arthritis…Patel S, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2143-2149.

Monday Jul 30, 2007
Long-term MTX or TNF-Inhibitors Do Not Increase EBV Load in RA Patients
The immunosuppressant effects of long-term use of methotrexate or TNF-inhibitors by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients do not lead to increased Epstein-Barr virus load...Balandraud N, et al. Arthritis Care Res. 2007;57:762-767.

Wednesday Jul 25, 2007
Targeted Genetics' Inflammatory Arthritis Phase I/II Trial Placed on Clinical Hold
Targeted Genetics Corp, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced that after recent discussions with the US FDA, the phase I/II clinical study of tgAAC94, an investigational therapy for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, has been placed on clinical hold.

Monday Jul 23, 2007
BioCryst, Roche Initiate Phase II Study of PNP Inhibitor for Psoriasis
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a leader in the use of crystallography and structure-based drug design for the development of novel therapeutics, announced the initiation of the first phase II study to evaluate BCX-4208/R3421, an orally available, small molecule, second generation transition-state analog inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP).

Monday Jul 23, 2007
Birth Defects Reported After First-Trimester Leflunomide
Leflunomide (Arava^R) has been reported to cause teratogenic effects in animals and is suspected of causing blindness and cerebral palsy in the son of a woman who took the drug through the first 21 weeks of gestation.

Friday Jul 20, 2007
OA Experts Discuss Inflammation, Joint Protection, Need for Disease-Modifying OA Drugs
CIAOMed's roundtable of osteoarthritis experts discuss the role of inflammation in OA, the possibility that OA joint damage might be preventable, and the future role of disease-modifying drugs in OA....

Thursday Jul 19, 2007
ACR REF Campaign Taps Brightest Minds to Cure RA
The American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation has awarded $6 million in grant money to 15 arthritis researchers as part of a new "Within Our Reach: Finding a Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis" campaign.

Wednesday Jul 18, 2007
Neurochem Receives Second Approvable Letter From US FDA for Eprodisate (Kiactaâ„¢) to Treat AA Amyloidosis
Neurochem (International) Limited  announced that it has received a second approvable letter from the US FDA for eprodisate (Kiactaâ„¢)...

Tuesday Jul 17, 2007
CombinatoRx's CRx-150 Fails to Meet Product Profile in Phase II Trial in RA; Development Discontinued in Favor of CRx-102

CombinatoRx, Inc, pioneering the new field of synergistic combination pharmaceuticals, announced disappointing preliminary results of its multicenter, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of CRx-150, a synergistic cytokine modulator combining the antidepressant amoxapine and the cardiovascular drug dipyridamole, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Tuesday Jul 17, 2007
NicOx Initiates Third Pivotal Phase III Study of Naproxcinod for OA of the Hip
NicOx SA, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of nitric oxide-donating drugs targeting the therapeutic areas of inflammation and cardiometabolic disease, announced the initiation of the third pivotal phase III clinical trial for naproxcinod in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip.

Tuesday Jul 17, 2007
Prospective Study Validates ESR and CRP as Screening Tests for Infection Before Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

ESR and CRP can be used to differentiate infected from noninfected knees prior to revision total knee arthroplasty…

Friday Jul 13, 2007
Resistance Training Benefits Patients With Myositis
Patients with chronic, stable polymyositis and dermatomyositis can benefit from intensive resistance exercise without suffering increased muscle inflammation...

Friday Jul 13, 2007
Intensive MTX Therapy Plus Computer Guidance Moves More RA Patients into Remission
Intensive methotrexate (MTX) therapy adjusted with the help of a quantitative computerized decision program may move more early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients into remission than conventional MTX treatment…Verstappen SMM, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007; May 22; [Epub ahead of print].

Thursday Jul 12, 2007
Coffee Consumption Slashes Gout Risk
Coffee may stave off gout before it starts, but patients who do develop gout are likely to receive suboptimal care...

Thursday Jul 12, 2007
Parvovirus Linked to Many Types of Juvenile Arthritis
Persistent parvovirus infection may trigger juvenile idiopathic arthritis...

Thursday Jul 12, 2007
Roche's Actemraâ„¢ (tocilizumab) Third Phase III Study Achieves Primary Endpoint in RA Patients Who Failed to Respond to Anti-TNFs; Confirms Findings From Previous Multinational Trials
Hoffmann-La Roche Inc announced that the Actemraâ„¢ RADIATE (RheumAtoiD ArthritIs Study in Anti-TNF FailurEs) trial successfully met its primary endpoint in patients with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who failed to respond to at least one anti-TNF therapy...

Wednesday Jul 11, 2007
Genzyme's Pivotal Trial of Hylastan for OA of the Knee Fails to Achieve Primary Endpoint
Genzyme Corp announced unfavorable topline results from a pivotal study investigating the safety and efficacy of hylastan, a viscosupplementation product, in treating pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee...

Tuesday Jul 10, 2007
Hydroxychloroquine Protects RA Patients Against Diabetes
RA patients taking hydroxychloroquine are up to 77% less likely to develop diabetes than RA patients who have not taken this drug...

Monday Jul 09, 2007
Zap Away Knee OA Pain With Pulsed Electrostimulation
Pulsed electrostimulation may be a safe and effective way to reduce pain and improve function in knee OA patients...

Thursday Jul 05, 2007
Anesiva Announces Phase II Data Showing Substantial, Long-Term Pain Reduction With Adleaâ„¢ (Formerly 4975) in OA of the Knee
Anesiva, Inc, a publicly-held, late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic treatments for pain management, announced preliminary, long-term, follow-up results from a phase II study showing that treatment with Adleaâ„¢ (formerly 4975) in patients with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee produced substantial pain reduction that lasted for up to 12 weeks...

Thursday Jul 05, 2007
Too Much Early, Aggressive Care Slows Recovery From Whiplash
Early, aggressive treatment of whiplash impedes recovery, and adding chiropractic to general medical care slows recuperation even more...

Thursday Jul 05, 2007
Galapagos Expands OA Alliance With GSK
Galapagos NV, a drug-discovery company with clinical and preclinical programs in bone and joint diseases, announced that is has expanded its existing multiyear osteoarthritis (OA) alliance with GlaxoSmithKline and that it has issued 513,281 new shares for an investment of 4.4 million EUR (approximately 6 million USD) by GSK. In the expanded program, GSK will bring a drug-discovery program against a selected GSK target into the alliance, and Galapagos will advance a disease-modifying drug toward completion of clinical phase IIa (proof-of-concept phase), at which point GSK's global research and development branch will be responsible for the late-stage development, production, and marketing of the drug...

Tuesday Jul 03, 2007
Conventional Drugs Can Beat Back Early RA
Two-year data show that intensive treatment with methotrexate (MTX) and intra-articular corticosteroid can reduce X-ray progression in early RA...

Tuesday Jul 03, 2007
Twenty Percent of Pregnant Women With RA Conceived While Taking Potentially Fetotoxic Drugs
The growing use of combination regimens including methotrexate in early RA warrants increased attention to warning patients about potential risks during the first trimester of pregnancy…

Thursday Jun 28, 2007
RA Disease Activity Decreases During Pregnancy, but Less Than Was Assumed
A prospective study of RA outcomes during pregnancy shows that improvement and remission rates are not as high as previously reported…

Thursday Jun 28, 2007
FDA Approves New Labeling for Carticel® in Repair of Articular Knee Cartilage
Genzyme Corporation announced that the US FDA has approved new labeling for Carticel® based on the company's completing a final FDA postapproval commitment study...

Thursday Jun 28, 2007
Knee OA Synovitis Linked To Pain but Not To Cartilage Loss
Longitudinal MRI shows that changes in knee synovitis correlate with pain but not with cartilage loss in knee OA and suggest that treatment targeted to synovitis may improve pain…

Wednesday Jun 27, 2007
Roche and Toyama Chemical Execute Agreement to Develop and Commercialize an Inhibitor of the Transcription Factor AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) to Treat RA
Roche Pharmaceuticals and Toyama Chemical Co, Ltd announced that they have entered into a licensing agreement for the worldwide research, development, and commercialization of Toyama's rheumatoid arthritis (RA) agent T-5224, an orally bioavailable inhibitor of the transcription factor AP-1 (Activator Protein-1).

Tuesday Jun 26, 2007
Cytos Reports Results From Phase I/IIa Study With Vaccine Candidate CYT007-TNFQb for Treatment of Psoriasis; Demonstrated Safety and Tolerability but Transient Efficacy
Cytos Biotechnology AG, a public biotechnology company that specializes in the discovery, development, and commercialization of a new class of biopharmaceutical products called Immunodrugsâ„¢ reported results from a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind combined phase I/IIa study with CYT007-TNFQb, a novel therapeutic vaccine candidate for the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Tuesday Jun 26, 2007
NSAID Stroke Risk Related to Hypertensive Effect, Not COX-2 Selectivity; Coxib GI Safety Advantage Depends on Comparator NSAID
Stroke risk is increased with NSAIDs known to cause hypertension, regardless of their COX-2 selectivity, and the apparent GI safety of some coxibs may be largely a function of the comparator NSAID used in clinical trials…

Thursday Jun 21, 2007
Lumiracoxib Effective for Hip OA and Better for BP Control Than Ibuprofen in Hypertensive OA Patients
Lumiracoxib shows promise for hip OA, and may be better than ibuprofen for hypertensive OA patients...

Thursday Jun 21, 2007
Early Data Show That Experimental B-Cell Blocker Passes Muster
Ofatumumab (Humax-CD20^TM), an experimental B-cell depleting agent, may be a safe and effective treatment for RA, but how it compares to rituximab remains to be seen...

Thursday Jun 21, 2007
Genzyme Files for FDA Approval of Single-Treatment Synvisc-Oneâ„¢ for OA Knee Pain
Genzyme Corp announced filing with the US FDA for product marketing authorization (PMA) of Synvisc-Oneâ„¢, the single treatment combining three doses of Synvisc® (hylan G-F 20) that provides up to 6 months of pain relief from osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee...

Tuesday Jun 19, 2007
Single Dose of Denosumab Reduces Bone Erosion in RA
MRI and X-ray data show that a single dose of denosumab reduces progression of bone erosions in RA patients...

Monday Jun 18, 2007
Novartis Reports Improved BP Control With Prexige® (lumiracoxib) But Similar Efficacy Compared With Ibuprofen in Hypertensive OA Patients
Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG reported new trial data showing that patients with osteoarthritis (OA), who also have controlled hypertension, experienced a slight decrease in average daily blood pressure (BP) when treated with the selective COX-2 inhibitor PrexigeR (lumiracoxib) compared with a slight increase in those taking ibuprofen, a commonly-used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Monday Jun 18, 2007
Immediate Switch From TNF-Inhibitors To Abatacept Safe in RA Patients
A washout is not needed when switching from a TNF-inhibitor to abatacept...

Saturday Jun 16, 2007
Long-Term, Repeated Use of Rituximab Is Safe in RA
A safety analysis of RA patients with long-term, repeated exposure to rituximab should go far toward relieving concerns over extended use...

Saturday Jun 16, 2007
Swedish Study Concludes That Having at Least 3 Drinks a Week Halves RA Risk
The more alcohol a person consumes, the more one's risk of RA is reduced...

Saturday Jun 16, 2007
Certolizumab, First PEGylated TNF-Blocker, May Surpass Older Drugs in Efficacy, Safety
When used with methotrexate, certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) may move rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients into remission more quickly than currently available TNF-blockers...

Friday Jun 15, 2007
Has the Increasing Use of Anti-TNF Drugs Led to a Rise in Cases of Drug-Induced Lupus? Study Says Yes
The increasing use of TNFα inhibitors to treat rheumatic, digestive, and cutaneous diseases has led to a corresponding rise in  the number of cases of drug-induced lupus...

Friday Jun 15, 2007
Oral Steroid Use Lessens Lymphoma Risk in RA
Treatment with oral steroids for longer than 2 years appears to decrease lymphoma risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis...

Friday Jun 15, 2007
Two Thirds of Gout Patients Receiving No, or Not Enough Treatment
A number of new treatment options for gout are available, but the major clinical problem is that even after gout diagnosis, only about one third of patients receive urate-lowering therapy...

Friday Jun 15, 2007
First Phase III Tocilizumab Data Show Rapid Improvement in RA Disease Activity, Confirming Critical Role of IL-6
Results of the first phase III trial of tocilizumab show that the anti-IL-6 monoclonal combined with methotrexate produces fast, sustained improvements in RA signs and symptoms, including a notable number of DAS28 remissions...

Thursday Jun 14, 2007
Modifed-Release Prednisone Tablet Reduces Morning Stiffness
Study highlights new approach to prednisolone delivery that synchronizes with the circadian rhythms of endogenous cortisol and RA symptoms…

Thursday Jun 14, 2007
Steroids Are DMARDS: MTX Plus Prednisolone Provides Durable Benefit in RA
Study confirms "window of opportunity" in early RA where steroids can reduce structural damage…

Wednesday Jun 13, 2007
Stopping AS May Require Earlier Use of TNF-Inhibitors
Inflammation in AS stops once the subchondral bone is eroded and the bone/cartilage interface disappears, so preventing bone erosion and syndesmophyte formation is likely to require early anti-inflammatory treatment, including TNF-inhibitors...

Tuesday Jun 12, 2007
Smoking, Coffee, Use of Oral Contraceptives Linked to Anti-CCP-Positive RA in SE Carriers
Persons homozygous for shared epitope (SE) susceptibility genes have up to 50-fold increased risk of anti-CCP-positive RA if they are heavy smokers or drinkers, or used oral contraceptives...

Monday Jun 11, 2007
Centocor's Remicade® (Infliximab) Receives EU Approval as First and Only Biologic for the Treatment of Pediatric Patients With Severe, Active Crohn's Disease
Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough Corp, announced that the European Commission has approved a new indication for Remicade (infliximab) allowing for the treatment of severe, active Crohn's disease (CD) in pediatric patients ages 6 to 17 years, who have not responded to conventional therapy including a corticosteroid, an immunomodulator, and primary nutrition therapy, or who are intolerant to, or have contraindications for such therapies...

Monday Jun 11, 2007
Abbott's HUMIRA® (Adalimumab) Approved in the European Union for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease
Abbott Laboratories announced that it has received marketing authorization from the European Commission for the use of Humira® (adalimumab) as a treatment for severe Crohn's disease (CD)...

Friday Jun 08, 2007
CCL18 Might Help Monitor Pulmonary Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis
Changes in BAL fluid levels of the chemokine CCL18 reflect changes in pulmonary fibrotic activity and might be useful for monitoring disease activity in systemic sclerosis and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias...

Thursday Jun 07, 2007
Leflunomide Trumps MTX for Preventing Relapse in Wegener's Granulomatosis; Side Effects Still a Worry
A head-to-head comparison of leflunomide and MTX for Wegener's granulomatosis was stopped early due to higher relapse rates with MTX...

Tuesday Jun 05, 2007
Peptech's Anti-TNF Domain Antibody (PN0621) Enters Phase I Clinical Trial
Peptech Limited, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and providing antibody- and peptide-based human therapeutic products for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer...

Monday Jun 04, 2007
Switching to Rituximab May Be Best Call If TNF-Blockers Fail in RA
Switching RA patients to rituximab after inadequate response to TNF inhibitors may be better than trying yet another anti-TNF agent...

Friday Jun 01, 2007
HGS and GSK Initiate Second Phase III Clinical Trial of LymphoStat-B^R (Belimumab) in Lupus
Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced that dosing has begun in BLISS-52, the second of two pivotal phase III clinical trials of LymphoStat-B® (belimumab), a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS®), in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Thursday May 31, 2007
Smoking Leads to Knee Cartilage Loss in Individuals With Family History of OA
Smoking leads to loss of knee cartilage and increased development of cartilage defects in individuals who have at least one parent with severe knee OA...

Wednesday May 30, 2007
Bristol-Myers Squibb Receives European Commission Approval for Orencia® in RA
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (RUEIL-MALMAISON, France) announced that the European Commission has granted approval for Orencia® (abatacept), the first and only selective costimulation modulator of T-cell activation, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Tuesday May 29, 2007
Biomechanics, Damage Outside Cartilage May Doom Chondroprotection
Chondroprotection seemed like a reasonable approach to OA when the disease was thought to result from wear and tear on cartilage, but it has had little success in clinical trials. Biomechanics and damage outside the cartilage may be the reason...

Friday May 25, 2007
Accumulating Evidence Supports Adalimumab for Severe Psoriatic Arthritis
Adalimumab (Humira®) is safe and effective for patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who showed an inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)...

Wednesday May 23, 2007
Celgene to Advance Clinical and Regulatory Development of Oral Anti-Inflammatory Agents Based on Successful Phase II Trial in Psoriasis; Expands Clinical Program to Include RA and PsA
Celgene Corp (SUMMIT, New Jersey), an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer, announced plans to advance its leading oral anti-inflammatory candidates to address a broad range of inflammatory diseases...

Wednesday May 23, 2007
4SC AG Updates Progress of Phase IIa Clinical Trial in RA

4SC AG, focusing on the discovery and development of novel drug candidates for inflammatory diseases and cancer using a cheminformatics-based technology platform, reported on the progress of a phase IIa clinical trial of its lead drug candidate SC12267, an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Friday May 18, 2007
Xanthus Acquires Exclusive License to FLT3 Tyrosine Kinase Pathway Patent Estate as a Target for Treating Autoimmune Diseases
Xanthus Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, acquisition, and commercialization of small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced that it has acquired an exclusive worldwide license to a patent estate from The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for treating immune-related disorders by inhibiting the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase...

Friday May 18, 2007
Little Benefit Found for Amitriptyline in JIA, But New Research Design May Speed Clinical Trials
Amitriptyline is ineffective for JIA pain, but multiple serial N-of-1 trials plus Bayesian meta-analysis can be used with low patient numbers to weed out treatments that don't merit study in large clinical trials...

Wednesday May 16, 2007
AlphaRx and Proprius Report Nonachievement of Primary Endpoints in Their Topical NSAID (Indaflexâ„¢) Phase II Study in Osteoarthritis
AlphaRx Inc (MARKHAM, an emerging drug delivery company, and Proprius Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic services company that focuses on the area of rheumatology and autoimmune diseases, announced that results from the Indaflexâ„¢ 2.5% Topical Indomethacin Cream exploratory phase II clinical trial for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (INDF-200) did not achieve its primary endpoints....

Wednesday May 16, 2007
Is There Anything Statins Can't Do? Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs May Moderate RA
In addition to their lipid-lowering effects, statins may reduce disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients...

Tuesday May 15, 2007
Echorheumatology: Will Growing Interest in Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Result in a New Subspecialty?
UK rheumatologists sound off on some of the barriers to in-office ultrasonography...

Tuesday May 15, 2007
TNF-α, IL-1 Mediate Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Blocking TNF-α or IL-1 can slow postmenopausal bone loss...

Thursday May 10, 2007
Hydrotherapy, Tai Chi May Be Better Than Traditional Land-Based Exercises for OA
Hydrotherapy and Tai Chi are both better at improving physical function in OA patients than traditional exercise programs, and hydrotherapy has a particularly high patient adherence, perhaps because it seems to provide greater pain relief...

Wednesday May 09, 2007
Synovial Inflammation in Lyme Arthritis Can Persist Even After Infection Is Cleared
Even when antibiotic treatment completely clears the infection in patients with Lyme arthritis, synovial inflammation may persist...

Tuesday May 08, 2007
2-Year Results Support Use of New Chondrocyte Graft to Repair Knee OA Damage
Two-year follow-up of a new 3-dimensional scaffold that permits grafting of autologous chondrocyte to repair knee cartilage defects show promising results in both knee OA and knee trauma, and the procedure can be done arthroscopically...

Thursday May 03, 2007
Parental Responses May Perpetuate Catastrophizing in Adolescents With Chronic Pain
Parents of adolescents who have chronic musculoskeletal pain may be unwittingly encouraging  a psychological pattern that worsens both pain intensity and functional disability in their children...

Thursday May 03, 2007
FDA Approves Labeling Update for Orencia® (Abatacept) to "Inhibiting" Structural Joint Damage in Adults with Moderate-to-Severe RA
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the US FDA has approved an update to the product labeling for Orencia® (abatacept) regarding the progression of structural joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients...

Wednesday May 02, 2007
Novosom Acquires Exclusive License Option for CD40-Targeted Antisense Inhibitors from Isis; Deal Strengthens Inflammation Therapeutic Development Program
Novosom AG announced that it has purchased an exclusive option from Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc (CARLSBAD, California) that, if exercised within 6 months, enables the company to acquire an exclusive, worldwide license to antisense inhibitors targeting the CD40 receptor for all indications...

Tuesday May 01, 2007
Rituximab Plus Cyclophosphamide May Be an Option for Patients With Refractory Lupus Nephritis
A new 6-month pilot study suggests that rituximab (RituxanR) plus cyclophosphamide leads to clinical and histopathologic improvements in patients with therapy-resistant proliferative lupus nephritis...

Tuesday May 01, 2007
MRI Erosions, Edema in RA  Are Due to Inflammatory Infiltrates in Bone Marrow
Bone erosions and bone marrow edema seen with MRI in joints affected by RA are due to inflammatory infiltrates that have invaded the bone marrow...

Monday Apr 30, 2007
RA Synovial Hyperplasia Linked to Protein That Prevents Apoptosis
Decoy receptor 3, previously found in tumor cells, is also produced in RA and OA synoviocytes and inhibits apoptosis of synoviocytes, perhaps contributing to synovial hyperplasia and pannus formation in rheumatoid joints...

Friday Apr 27, 2007
Estrogen Exposure May Increase Lupus Risk
Lupus affects nine women for every one man. Is estrogen to blame?...

Thursday Apr 26, 2007
Local Gene Therapy for RA Intra-articular Anti-TNF Gene Transduction Reduces Joint Inflammation in RA Animal Model
An anti-TNF gene therapy vector carried by an adeno-associated retrovirus vector and injected into inflamed joints successfully reduced joint inflammation and levels of inflammatory markers in an animal model of RA...

Wednesday Apr 25, 2007
Varus Alignment Doubles Risk for Knee OA in Overweight Subjects
Varus knee alignment precedes and doubles the risk of new-onset knee OA in overweight or obese subjects and worsens disease progression...

Monday Apr 23, 2007
Rigel Provides Clinical Update of R788 Phase II Trials in ITP and RA

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a clinical-stage drug development company, provided an update on R788, currently involved in ongoing phase II clinical trials in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Monday Apr 23, 2007
Tramadol for OA? Meta-Analysis Shows Pain Relief, But Barely
A new meta-analysis concludes that tramadol is better than placebo at decreasing pain intensity, relieving symptoms, and improving function in patients with OA, but the degree of benefit is small; one in eight patients will stop taking the drug because of adverse events...

Thursday Apr 19, 2007
Little High-Quality Evidence Found for Either Diagnosis or Treatment of Septic Arthritis
A systematic review of research on septic arthritis finds little reliable evidence to guide either diagnosis or management. The review identifies antibiotic choice, route of administration, and duration as key unanswered questions, as well as whether closed aspiration or open arthroscopy/arthrotomy is better for cleaning out an infected joint...

Tuesday Apr 17, 2007
Neurochem's Eprodisate (Kiactaâ„¢) for AA Amyloidosis Approval Decision Delayed 3 Months by US FDA
Neurochem (International) Limited announced that it received notification from the US FDA that the action date for FDA's review of the New Drug Application (NDA) for eprodisate (Kiactaâ„¢, 1,3-propanedisulfonate, formerly Fibrillexâ„¢) an oral investigational product candidate for the treatment of amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis, has been extended to July 16, 2007...

Tuesday Apr 17, 2007
Is the "Golden Moment of Opportunity" to Improve FDA's Drug Safety Work About to Be Wasted?
The FDA's proposals for the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act are weighed and found wanting by experts in three New England Journal of Medicine commentaries...

Monday Apr 16, 2007
Abbott Seeks US and EU Regulatory Approval for HUMIRA® (Adalimumab) in Psoriasis; Receives US FDA Approval in Crohn's Disease
Abbott Laboratories announced that it has simultaneously submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the US FDA and a Type II Variation to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) seeking approval to market HUMIRA® (adalimumab) as a treatment for moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis, the fifth autoimmune disease targeted for HUMIRA therapy in both the US and Europe...

Friday Apr 13, 2007
FDA Panel Rejects Merck's Arcoxia By 20-to-1 Vote
Citing increased cardiovascular risks, an FDA advisory panel voted 20-to-1 against recommending approval of the COX-2 inhibitor ArcoxiaR (etoricoxib) for the treatment of osteoarthritis...

Friday Apr 13, 2007
Better Pain Management Urged for OA Patients Awaiting Hip or Knee Replacement in U.K.
Most patients on waiting lists for hip or knee replacement in Britain, report continuing, severe pain and suboptimal levels of analgesia...

Thursday Apr 12, 2007
Cerimon Initiates Global Phase IIb Study of IL-2 Receptor Antagonist, Basiliximab, in Patients With Steroid-Refractory Ulcerative Colitis
Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of therapeutics for  autoimmune diseases, inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases, and pain management, announced that it has begun enrolling patients in a phase IIb clinical study of its lead product candidate basiliximab (SimulectR, Novartis Pharma AG) for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).

Thursday Apr 12, 2007
Dropping 5% of Weight in 20 Weeks Reduces Disability, Pain in Knee OA
Losing just 5% of total body weight within a 20-week period  — or 0.25% per week — should be enough for overweight or obese patients with knee OA to feel and function better. . .

Tuesday Apr 10, 2007
Aromatase Inhibitors Linked to Increasing Rate of Arthralgias in Cancer Survivors
Aromatase inhibitors have revolutionized breast cancer treatment, but are also contributing to increased rates of arthralgias in cancer survivors and may uncover underlying RA in some cases...

Monday Apr 09, 2007
Study on Link Between RA and Diabetes Leaves Many Questions Unanswered

Some research has suggested an inflammation-mediated link between RA and diabetes, but a new study may debunk this theory...

Friday Apr 06, 2007
Shared Epitope Either Raises or Lowers Risk of RA-Related Antibodies, Depending on Neighboring Amino Acids
HLA-DRB1 shared epitope alleles can either predispose to or protect against production of autoantibodies associated with early, erosive RA, depending on which amino acids occupy neighboring positions...

Thursday Apr 05, 2007
More Evidence Points Toward Safety of Anti-TNF Drugs During Pregnancy
Three recent case reports add to an accumulating body of evidence that the TNF-blockers are safe during pregnancy, but one new report is far from the final word on the issue...

Thursday Apr 05, 2007
Labopharm Reports Data from Phase III Clinical Trial for its Once-Daily Formulation of the Analgesic Tramadol (Tramadol Contramid® OAD) for Osteoarthritis
Labopharm Inc (LAVAL, Québec, Canada), is an international specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of drugs incorporating it's proprietary advanced controlled-release technologies...

Wednesday Apr 04, 2007
Repeated B-Cell Depletion Safe, Effective Over 5 Years in RA
B-cell depletion with rituximab was effective for an average of 15 months per cycle and was relatively well tolerated for up to 5 repeat cycles in patients with otherwise refractory RA...

Tuesday Apr 03, 2007
Inflammation More Important Than Joint Damage in Psoriatic Arthritis Disability
Psoriatic arthritis disease activity is more important than joint damage in causing disability, especially in the early years of disease duration…

Monday Apr 02, 2007
News Analysis: New FDA Conflict-of-Interest Guidelines May Impact Advisory Committees
FDA is moving to tighten financial conflict-of-interest guidelines for members of FDA advisory committees, despite evidence that excluding participants with such interests would have had no impact on the vote outcomes of prior meetings…

Monday Apr 02, 2007
Nuvo Provides Update on Pennsaid® Discussions with the US FDA

Nuvo Research Inc is a publicly traded pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing innovative site-specific therapeutics that are delivered topically using the company's skin-penetrating technologies...

Thursday Mar 29, 2007
Nitec Grants German Marketing Rights to Merck Pharma GmbH for Lodotraâ„¢, a Modified-Release Low-Dose Prednisone for RA
Nitec Pharma AG, a specialist pharmaceutical company that focuses on the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, announced that it has granted marketing rights in Germany to Merck Pharma GmbH, a division of Merck KGaA, for Lodotraâ„¢, a modified-release tablet that has been developed to optimize the efficacy of orally administered low-dose prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Thursday Mar 29, 2007
"Emotional" Brain Areas Triggered by OA Pain Might Be Good Therapeutic Target
Patients feel knee OA pain through two brain systems: the ‘lateral pain system,' involved with sensory pain, and the ‘medial pain system,' involved with the emotional aspects of pain. The latter may be a good target for new analgesics for arthritic pain...

Thursday Mar 22, 2007
6000-Patient Open-Label ReAct Study Shows Adalimumab Safe, Effective Alone or With DMARDs in Hard-to-Treat RA
The largest prospective study to date of the use of a TNF-inhibitor in RA shows that adalimumab (Humira®) is safe and effective alone or in combination with standard disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)...

Thursday Mar 22, 2007
New Studies Urge Closer Monitoring for JIA-Related Uveitis, TNF-Inhibitors Effective For Difficult Cases

New studies report that uveitis occurs in up to 20% of JIA patients, that TNF-inhibitors may be effective in hard-to-treat cases, and that close monitoring for uveitis should continue even during arthritis remissions...

Tuesday Mar 20, 2007
CYC Better Than AZA for Lupus Nephritis; Repeat Renal Biopsy Adds Little Useful Data
Azathioprine/methylprednisolone is inferior to pulse cyclophosphamide (CYC) for proliferative lupus nephritis...

Tuesday Mar 20, 2007
POZEN Reports Positive Outcome for "Safer Aspirin" PA 325 Proof-of-Concept Study
POZEN Inc, a pharmaceutical company developing products for the treatment of acute and chronic pain, announced positive results of its "Safer Aspirin" PA 325 proof-of-concept study conducted during the fourth quarter of 2006...

Tuesday Mar 20, 2007
Two-Year BeSt Data Confirm Benefits of Early Combo DMARDs for Early RA, Highlight Importance of Tight Control and Individualized Treatment
Two-year data from the BeSt trial support initial combination therapy, changed as needed to sustain DAS <2.4, as most effective for preventing progression of early RA...

Monday Mar 19, 2007
Joint Damage Continues in Some RA Patients Despite Sustained Clinical Remission
Radiologic damage may progress in some RA patients who meet standard criteria for clinical remission. This radiologic damage is independent of joint inflammation, and absence of progression should be added to remission criteria in RA...

Monday Mar 19, 2007
Medivir Begins Initial Clinical Trial of Osteoporosis Drug Cathepsin K Inhibitor
Medivir AB, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, announced the start of its first osteoporosis clinical trial of MIV-701, an orally bioavailable inhibitor of cathepsin K, a thiol (cysteine) protease that is expressed by osteoclasts and degrades key bone and cartilage matrix proteins, including type 1 collagen...

Thursday Mar 15, 2007
MIC-1 May Be a Biomarker for Erosive Disease in RA
Serum levels of the transforming growth factor ß superfamily member MIC-1 may help clinicians identify rheumatoid arthritis patients who are at greatest risk for erosive disease and thus are  candidates for aggressive therapy…

Monday Mar 12, 2007
Novartis, Nordic Bioscience to Initiate Osteoporosis Phase III Program Using Emisphere's Eligen^R Technology for Oral Salmon Calcitonin

Emisphere Technologies, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the oral delivery of otherwise injectable drugs, announces that Novartis Pharmaceutical AG and its development partner Nordic Bioscience A/S will initiate a phase III clinical trial for the treatment of osteoporosis with an oral form of salmon calcitonin (SMC021), a new drug candidate, using Emisphere's eligen® delivery technology...

Friday Mar 09, 2007
TNF-Inhibitors Cut Cancer, Cardiac, Overall Mortality in RA Patients
A comparison of two nationwide databases shows that RA patients treated with TNF-inhibitors have lower mortality from all causes than RA patients not taking these drugs...

Thursday Mar 08, 2007
Mayo Clinic Study Suggests that Steroids Raise CV Risk Only in RF-Positive Patients
Steroid exposure increases CV risk in RA patients who were RF-positive, but not in patients RF-negative, Mayo Clinic researchers conclude...

Wednesday Mar 07, 2007
Evotec and Interprotein Sign Collaboration Agreement to Develop Small Molecule Interleukin-6 Inhibitors to Treat Inflammatory Diseases

Evotec AG, a leader in the discovery and development of small molecule drugs, and Interprotein Corporation, a developer of orally bioavailable small molecule drugs that modulate protein-protein interactions, announced that they have signed a collaboration agreement on Interprotein's interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors program for the development of novel, orally active drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases...

Tuesday Mar 06, 2007
Coxibs and Other NSAIDs Delay Fracture Healing If Used At Wrong Time
Use of COX-2 inhibitors to deaden pain in the 14 days after a fracture might also inhibit fracture healing, although use of the drugs prior to or more than 2 weeks after injury seems safe...

Monday Mar 05, 2007
New Study Suggests MRI Might Be Alternative to Radiographic JSW as Efficacy Measure for Osteoarthritis Drugs
Radiographic JSW remains the gold standard for assessing progression of knee OA in clinical trials, but new research suggests that MRI might be a reasonable alternative...

Thursday Mar 01, 2007
Larger Study Fails to Confirm Link Between Red Meat and RA
The largest study to date to examine dietary protein, iron, and meat consumption and risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not confirmed a link between red meat intake and RA suggested by earlier studies...

Thursday Mar 01, 2007
Calcium-Containing Crystals May Contribute to OA Joint Destruction, Be Amenable to Treatment
Evidence is accumulating that calcium-containing crystals, which are common in OA synovial fluids in some patients, contribute to the development of rapidly destructive arthritis and might be a target for therapeutic intervention...

Wednesday Feb 28, 2007
Abbott's Humira^R (Adalimumab) Receives FDA Approval for Self-Administered Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Crohn's Disease; Represents 4th FDA Approval in Immune-Mediated Diseases for Humira

Abbott announced it has received US FDA approval to market Humira® (adalimumab, a fully human anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody) as a treatment for reducing the signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission of moderately-to-severely active Crohn's disease (CD) in adults who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy...

Wednesday Feb 28, 2007
Atherogenic Lipid Profile Begins 10 Years Before Onset of RA
High levels of cholesterol and other blood lipids in RA patients may predate RA onset by as much as 10 years, and inflammation is only partially to blame...

Tuesday Feb 27, 2007
UCB Reports Significant Reduction in Joint Damage From Phase III Results With Cimzia in Rheumatoid Arthritis; Fc Region Present in Conventional Anti-TNFs Is Not Required for Activity
UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, announced results of an international, multicenter, placebo-controlled phase III study (RAPID 1) involving nearly 1000 patients that evaluated the investigational agent Cimziaâ„¢ (certolizumab pegol)...

Monday Feb 26, 2007
Lupus Patients Clear UV-Damaged "Sunburn Cells" but May Have Unusual Inflammatory Reaction to Them
Sunlight can trigger new skin lesions and worsen disease activity in lupus; this might reflect an abnormal inflammatory response to UV-damaged cells, despite the ability to clear them normally from the epidermis...

Thursday Feb 22, 2007
Study Supports Intra-Articular Steroid Injections for Hip OA
Steroid injections in the hip to treat hip OA were effective in an uncontrolled pilot study and should be studied in randomized, controlled trials...

Tuesday Feb 20, 2007
Subset of Early RA Patients Seems Doomed to Progression Regardless of Treatment
Some patients with recent-onset RA who are RF-positive, are anti-CCP-positive, or have a high cumulative amount of disease activity are likely to have rapid progression despite aggressive treatment...

Tuesday Feb 20, 2007
Osiris's Chondrogenâ„¢ Adult Stem Cell Therapy Fails to Demonstrate Cartilage Regeneration According to Interim Results from Phase I/II Study
Osiris Therapeutics, a leader in adult stem cell therapy, announced that 6-month interim results from its phase I/II clinical study of Chondrogenâ„¢, a preparation of mesenchymal stem cells obtained from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors and specially formulated for direct injection into the knee for the regeneration of the meniscus in the knee and prevention of osteoarthritis, failed to demonstrate significant amounts of meniscal regeneration...

Tuesday Feb 20, 2007
Suspect CVID if Lupus Patients Have Recurrent Sinus Infections
Rheumatologists should suspect CVID in lupus patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infections in the absence of lupus activity and/or immunosuppressive treatment. Treatment with gammaglobulins may be highly effective for this rare but potentially deadly disease...

Thursday Feb 15, 2007
HGS and GSK Initiate Phase III Clinical Trial of LymphoStat-B® in Lupus
Human Genome Sciences, Inc and GlaxoSmithKline PLC announced the initiation of dosing in BLISS-76, one of two pivotal phase III clinical trials of LymphoStat-B® (belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody that blocks the biological activity of B-lymphocyte stimulator, or BLyS®) in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)...

Thursday Feb 15, 2007
Experts at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Predict Clinically Useful Gene Therapy, Tissue Engineering Will Be Available "in 5 to 10 Years"
Presentations at the AAOS meeting include advances in both gene therapy and tissue-engineered products for cartilage, bone, and tendon repair...

Tuesday Feb 13, 2007
Rheumatologists Advised to Be Alert for Signs of Serum Sickness in Rituximab-Treated Patients
The first case of rituximab-induced serum sickness in a patient without an underlying autoimmune disorder suggests that this problem might be under-recognized in RA and SLE patients...

Tuesday Feb 13, 2007
SRI and Telik Announce Exclusive License for SRI to Develop MCP-1 Antagonist for Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
Telik, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing novel small molecule drug candidates, and SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization, announced that they have signed an exclusive license agreement...

Monday Feb 12, 2007
Etoricoxib Reduces Mild but Not Serious GI Events Versus Diclofenac
The gradual return of the coxibs gained traction this week with a report in The Lancet that etoricoxib produced significantly fewer upper GI clinical events than diclofenac in RA or OA patients in the randomized MEDAL program studies...

Thursday Feb 08, 2007
Trubion Completes Enrollment and Dosing of Patients in Phase IIb Clinical Trial of Immunotherapeutic TRU-015 for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company creating a pipeline of product candidates to treat autoimmune disease and cancer, announced it has completed enrollment and dosing of patients in its phase IIb clinical trial of TRU-015, the company's lead Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical drug candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

Thursday Feb 08, 2007
More Patient Input on Design Needed If RA Patients Are Actually to Wear Therapeutic Shoes
More attention to shape and design of shoes for feet of RA patients...

Thursday Feb 08, 2007
Steroids Add 60% to DMARD Efficacy in RA

Cochrane Collaboration reviewers say that steroids should be added to the list of drugs that can change the course of rheumatoid arthritis if used early enough...

Tuesday Feb 06, 2007
New RA Vaccine Targets Regulatory T-Cells
A pilot clinical trial of a new RA vaccine derived from autologous synovial T-cells shows proof-of-principle that inducing CD4+ regulatory T-cells can improve clinical and laboratory parameters in RA patients...

Monday Feb 05, 2007
Ception Therapeutics Raises $63 Million in Series C Financing for Mid-to-Late Stage Anti-Inflammatory Trials
Ception Therapeutics, Inc, an emerging biopharmaceutical company having corporate offices in MALVERN, Pennsylvania, and a research center in ROCKVILLE, Maryland, announced that it has raised $63 million through a Series C private placement of preferred stock.

Thursday Feb 01, 2007
Brain Dysfunction Precedes the Development of Fibromyalgia
Abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can be detected more than a year before the development of fibromyalgia symptoms in patients who are psychologically "at risk." HPA dysfunction appears to increase the chance that psychological stress will trigger chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain...

Wednesday Jan 31, 2007
New Model Predicts Risk of RA
A newly developed, easy-to-use prediction rule may help rheumatologists determine which patients with undifferentiated arthritis (UA) will progress to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and require early, aggressive treatment...

Wednesday Jan 31, 2007
First, Do No Harm—Exercise Won't Up Risk of Knee OA
Exercise neither protects against nor increases the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in older, overweight adults…

Tuesday Jan 30, 2007
Lexicon Genetics to Become Lexicon Pharmaceuticals; Plans to File IND for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lexicon Genetics Incorporated, an emerging biopharmaceutical company employing its proprietary gene knockout technology to discover knockout-validated drug targets, announced that it is it is changing its name to Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc, to reflect the company's focus on operations on drug discovery and development.

Tuesday Jan 30, 2007
Whiplash Rarely Results in Widespread Pain
New research shows that individuals with whiplash who report early symptoms of depression and those with severe neck injury are most at risk for widespread pain...

Tuesday Jan 30, 2007
Arthritis Costs Consumed 1.2% of US GDP in 2003, but Per-Patient Costs Are Not Rising
CDC's latest analysis of direct and indirect costs of arthritis and related conditions finds a population-driven surge to $128 billion in 2003. The surprise is that per-person direct medical costs actually decreased slightly. Centers for Disease Control...

Monday Jan 29, 2007
MediGene Initiates Phase IIa Clinical Trial of RhuDex®, an Oral Inhibitor of T-cell Activation, in RA
MediGene AG (MARTINSRIED/MUNICH, Germany), the publicly-held biotechnology company targeting autoimmune diseases and cancer announced the initiation of a phase IIa clinical trial of its drug candidate RhuDex®, a novel, orally bioavailable inhibitor of T-cell costimulation via the CD80-CD28 pathway, in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Monday Jan 29, 2007
Renovis Reduces Workforce by 40%; Will Focus on Inflammatory Diseases and Pain
Renovis, Inc (SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, California), a biopharmaceutical company that seeks to discover, develop, and commercialize therapeutics for inflammatory and neurological diseases, announced it has reduced its workforce by approximately 40% to approximately 70 employees.

Monday Jan 29, 2007
High MBL Levels Associated With Ischemic Heart Disease in RA
An altered form of IgG found in many RA patients can bind to mannose-binding lectin (MBL), and the resulting immune complexes may explain why high serum levels of MBL increase myocardial infarction risk and ischemic heart disease mortality in RA...

Thursday Jan 25, 2007
Anti-Infliximab Antibodies Linked to Nonresponse in AS
New research outlines some drawbacks and limitations in the use of TNF-inhibitors among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and other forms of spondylarthritis...

Thursday Jan 25, 2007
TNF Inhibitors May Protect Against Several Types of RA Cardiovascular Risk
RA patients treated with TNF inhibitors might also gain some protection against CV morbidity and mortality...

Tuesday Jan 23, 2007
Can the Web Help Doctors Get RA Patients Moving? Maybe
RA patients randomized to an individualized, Internet-based exercise program report more physical activity than those given general exercise information, but the electronic monitor does not confirm their reports...

Monday Jan 22, 2007
Glenmark's Lead Drug Candidate for pain, GRC 6211, Enters Phase I in Europe; Osteoarthritis a Target
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals SA, the wholly owned Swiss subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd (MUMBAI, India), a research-led, global, fully integrated pharmaceutical company, has applied for phase I clinical trials in Europe for GRC 6211...

Friday Jan 19, 2007
Anesiva's Phase II and Phase III Pivotal Clinical Studies of 4975, a Long-Acting Pain Candidate, to Start in 2007 for Osteoarthritis and Postsurgical Pain (Total Knee Arthroplasty)
Anesiva, Inc. (SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, California), a publicly-held, late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic treatments for pain management, announced the planned phase II/III clinical trial program for the development of 4975, a long-acting, nonopioid, capsaicin-based agonist of TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1; formerly known as vanilloid receptor 1 or VR1), a ligand-gated ion channel activated by agonists such as capsaicin and other factors (eg, heat and acidosis), for the acute treatment of severe pain including osteoarthritis (OA) and postsurgical pain...

Friday Jan 19, 2007
Hazardous Waste Exposure Increases Early SLE Risk in Subgroup of African-American Women with GST Polymorphisms
Living near a hazardous waste site was not associated with risk of earlier lupus diagnosis for most African-American women surveyed in the Roxbury Lupus Project, but did increase risk for a subgroup of women who carry certain  glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms...

Thursday Jan 18, 2007
New Treatments Rocked Rheumatology in 2006

New treatment options have advanced rheumatology care in 2006, but lupus remains an unsolved problem, and CIAOMed Editorial Board members expect economic issues to greatly impact rheumatology practice in 2007...

Wednesday Jan 17, 2007
Rheumatologists May Be Doing Better at Treating Osteoporosis in RA Patients
Management of osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has improved modestly since 1999 (at least in one large academic practice)...

Tuesday Jan 16, 2007
Can-Fite Completes Enrollment of 250 Patients in Phase IIb RA Trial of CF101, an A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonist; Receives US$1 Million Payment from Seikagaku Corporation
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on a portfolio of orally bioavailable, highly selective, small molecule A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) agonists with potent activities in inflammation and cancer, announced the  completion of patient enrollment in a phase IIb rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trial of CF101, an A(3)AR agonist...

Tuesday Jan 16, 2007
Preclinical Data Support Trial of Gleevec in SSc
The anticancer drug imatinib (Gleevec) can reduce production of extracellular matrix in SSc dermal fibroblasts, has prevented experimental dermal fibrosis in an animal model, and is seen as a "highly promising candidate" for treatment of SSc...

Tuesday Jan 16, 2007
Horizon Therapeutics' Phase III Trial of GI-Friendly NSAID for Mild-to-Moderate Pain Relief, Including Patients With Osteoarthritis, to be Conducted Under a Special Protocol Assessment; Company Raises $15 Million in Series B Financing
Horizon Therapeutics, Inc, a privately-held, late-stage biopharmaceutical company is focusing on the development and commercialization of therapeutic treatments for mild-to-moderate pain management based on innovative combinations of approved pharmaceutical products that seek to improve safety, efficacy, and patient compliance.

Friday Jan 12, 2007
Lavage With Steroids Better Than Aspiration With Steroids for Inflammatory Knee  Arthritis
Arthroscopic lavage plus steroids provides a more prolonged therapeutic benefit than  joint aspiration plus steroids or lavage alone in knee inflammatory arthritis...

Thursday Jan 11, 2007
Combination DMARD Therapy Leads to Sustained Remission in RA
Treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a combination of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) plus prednisolone results in sustained remission and blocks the progression of radiographic joint damage in a "remarkable proportion" of patients...

Thursday Jan 11, 2007
Rigel Starts Phase II Study of Its Oral Kinase Inhibitor, R788, in Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, announced that it has initiated enrollment and dosing of patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in a phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of its lead product candidate, R788, an oral syk kinase inhibitor that inhibits IgG signaling and blocks the activation of mast cells, macrophages and B-cells that promote swelling and an inflammatory response.

Thursday Jan 11, 2007
New Study Challenges Role of Low Vitamin D in OA Worsening
Low vitamin D levels did not predict worsening of knee OA joint space narrowing or cartilage loss...

Wednesday Jan 10, 2007
GlaxoSmithKline to Acquire Praecis Pharmaceuticals for US$54.8 Million; Acquisition Includes Inhibitor of Methionine Aminopeptidase Type-2 for RA
GlaxoSmithKline plc and Praecis Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (WALTHAM, Massachusetts) announced the execution of a definitive agreement providing for GSK to acquire all outstanding shares of Praecis' common stock for a cash purchase price of US$5.00 per share or a total of approximately $54.8 million for the entire equity interest of Praecis. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007.

Tuesday Jan 09, 2007
Pilot Study Data Support Trial of Intermittent versus Continuous Celecoxib in OA
 Intermittent celecoxib was not significantly less effective than continuous celecoxib in a pilot study of patients with hip or knee OA.

Tuesday Jan 09, 2007
Small Study Highlights Role for Etanercept in Rheumatological Manifestations of HCV
Etanercept seems to be safe and effective for the treatment of rheumatological manifestations associated with hepatitis virus C, but more studies are needed before firm  conclusions can be drawn...

Monday Jan 08, 2007
Ethanol Prevents Joint Destruction in Mouse RA Model
Arthritis-prone mice obliged to drink 10% ethanol for 5 weeks were largely protected from developing destructive joint disease...

Monday Jan 08, 2007
MedImmune In-Licenses from Japan Tobacco anti-ICOS Monoclonal Antibody for Inflammatory Diseases
MedImmune, Inc announced an exclusive license agreement with Japan Tobacco, Inc (JT), for a human monoclonal antibody inhibiting inducible costimulator (ICOS), a protein associated with T-cell activation that plays a key role in controlling adaptive immune responses.

Thursday Jan 04, 2007
RA Emerges as Major Burden in Developing Countries
The average societal cost of RA cases in Thailand is estimated at over 40% of patients' average annual income...

Thursday Jan 04, 2007
FivePrime Signs Collaborative Research and License Deal With Centocor to Discover Therapeutics to Treat OA and Other Diseases
FivePrime Therapeutics, Inc, a privately held protein therapeutics discovery and development company, announced the signing of a worldwide collaborative research and license agreement with Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, to discover therapeutic products to treat osteoarthritis (OA) and pulmonary fibrosis.

Wednesday Jan 03, 2007
Nuvo Receives Approvable Letter from US FDA for Pennsaid, a Topical Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee; Nuvo Licenses Canadian Pennsaid Plus Rights to Squire Pharmaceuticals, a Subsidiary of Paladin Labs
Nuvo Research Inc announced that it has received an approvable letter from the US FDA for Pennsaid® (1.5% w/w diclofenac sodium solution), a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Thursday Dec 21, 2006
ZymoGenetics and Serono Begin Phase II Clinical Trial with Atacicept (TACI-Ig) in RA
ZymoGenetics, Inc and Serono announced the start of a phase II clinical trial of their investigational therapeutic atacicept (formerly TACI-Ig) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, dose-finding study will investigate the efficacy of atacicept in patients with an inadequate disease response to prior treatment with TNF inhibitors.

Wednesday Dec 20, 2006
GlaxoSmithKline and Genmab Enter Exclusive Global Agreement for HuMax-CD20, a B-cell Depletion Agent; Deal Potentially Worth US$2.1 Billion
GlaxoSmithKline plc and Genmab A/S announced a worldwide agreement to codevelop and commercialize HuMax-CD20â„¢ (ofatumumab), a fully human monoclonal IgG1antibody targeting the CD20 antigen on the surface of B cells and currently in phase II clinical trial development for active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and in late-stage development for CD20 positive B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Wednesday Dec 20, 2006
Celera Identifies Genetic Variations in Genes Encoding IL-12 and IL-23 Predisposing Individuals to Increased Risk for Psoriasis
Celera, an Applera Corporation business, announced findings that variants in the genes encoding interleukin-12 (IL12B) and interleukin-23 (IL23R), involved in regulating the behavior of cells of the immune system, independently contribute to psoriasis risk.

Tuesday Dec 19, 2006
FDA Approves Celebrex for JRA
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved celecoxib (Celebrex) for treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis...

Monday Dec 18, 2006
Genzyme, Anika Retain Separate Medicare Code and Reimbursement Rate for Synvisc and Orthovisc, Respectively; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Reverse Earlier Decision
Genzyme Corp (CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts) and Anika Therapeutics, Inc (WOBURN, Massachusetts)  independently announced that Synvisc® (hylan G-F 20) and  Orthovisc®, their respective hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplement products used to treat pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, will maintain separate reimbursement codes and rates for 2007, according to a decision made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Monday Dec 18, 2006
Smoking Exacerbates Knee OA
Men with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who smoke experience greater cartilage loss and more severe pain than men who do not smoke…Amin S, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 December 20; [Epub ahead of print].

Thursday Dec 14, 2006
Transcranial Electrostim Reduces Pain, Confirms Fibromyalgia as a Central Pain Syndrome
Noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation can relieve fibromyalgia pain, pilot study shows...

Thursday Dec 14, 2006
Women's Health Study Data Rule Out CRP As Predictor of RA Risk in Women
Elevated CRP levels are not a good predictor of subsequent development of RA in otherwise healthy women...

Thursday Dec 14, 2006
Genmab Sees Positive Interim Data for HuMax-CD20 Phase II in Rheumatoid Arthritis; Starts Planning Phase III Studies
Genmab A/S, a human antibody therapeutics company, announced positive results from an interim analysis of the first 100 patients in the ongoing phase II rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study of HuMAX-CD20 (ofatumumab), a fully human monoclonal IgG1 antibody targeting the CD20 antigen on B-cells and currently in clinical development as a treatment for active RA, as well as for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Wednesday Dec 13, 2006
RA Remission Often Accompanied by Silent Synovitis
The majority of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who meet ACR remission criteria still have synovitis detectable on MRI or ultrasound...

Wednesday Dec 13, 2006
Massage May Be Just What the Doctor Ordered for Pain of Knee OA
Swedish massage therapy may help decrease pain and improve function among patients with knee osteoarthritis...

Monday Dec 11, 2006
Steroids, Cytotoxics Cause More Heart Damage than Biologics in Treating RA
Biologic immunosuppressive agents used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) carry cardiovascular risks similar to that of methotrexate (MTX), but oral glucocorticoids and other cytotoxic RA drugs are more damaging to the heart...

Thursday Dec 07, 2006
High-Dose Immune Suppression With or Without Stem Cell Transplants For Systemic Sclerosis
Studies are evaluating stem cell transplantation as a potential treatment for autoimmune disease, however, researchers sharply disagree regarding myeloablative vs nonmyeloablative approaches and whether stem cells are really necessary...

Wednesday Dec 06, 2006
Serum MMP-3 May Be Biomarker of Joint Damage in AS, MRI Accuracy Questioned
Measuring serum levels of metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) may be an inexpensive yet accurate way for rheumatologists to predict which AS patients will develop joint damage, particularly in those with pre-existing radiographic damage...

Monday Dec 04, 2006
Hollis-Eden's Steroid Hormone Preclinical Drug Candidate HE3286 Gains Positive Data in Model of RA
Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc, developing a proprietary new class of small molecule compounds that are metabolites or synthetic analogs of adrenal steroid hormones, announced data on an experimental drug candidate, HE3286, an orally active, second-generation, synthetic steroid hormone currently in preclinical study for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders.

Monday Dec 04, 2006
Genzyme's Synvisc® Demonstrated to Improve Osteoarthritis Knee Pain With Single Dose
Genzyme Corporation announced preliminary results from a study conducted in Europe that indicate that patients treated with a single dose of Synvisc® (hylan G-F 20) achieved a statistically significant improvement in pain from osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee over 26 weeks compared with those using placebo.

Friday Dec 01, 2006
Registry Study Says RA Biologics Raise Odds of Melanomas and Skin Cancers, Not Other Malignancies

The latest attempt to sort out the relationship between TNF inhibitors and cancer risk in RA patients found no increase in overall cancer risk, but substantial increases in melanoma and nonmelanomatous skin cancer rates in patients treated with these agents...Wolfe F, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.

Thursday Nov 30, 2006
FDA Panel Gives Nod to Celebrex for JRA
Despite a desire for more long term safety data, an advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration voted 15-1 Wednesday to recommend approval of celecoxib (CelebrexR) for the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)...

Wednesday Nov 29, 2006
KaloBios Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of Anti-GM-CSF Antibody for Rheumatoid Arthritis
KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a privately-held clinical development company focused on the development of therapeutic antibodies, announced that it has begun treating patients in a phase I clinical trial of its investigational rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapeutic, KB002, an engineered chimeric human monoclonal antibody targeting the cytokine growth factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

Wednesday Nov 29, 2006
Source MDx Awarded SBIR Phase I Grant; Will Collaborate with Tufts-New England Medical Center to Develop Biomarkers to Predict Responders and Nonresponders to Anti-TNF Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Source MDx, a molecular diagnostics company, and Tufts-New England Medical Center (NEMC) announced a collaboration to investigate the clinical use of RNA-based molecular diagnostic tests to monitor rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease status and response to therapy.

Wednesday Nov 29, 2006
Millennium Begins Phase II Study of CCR1 Antagonist in Rheumatoid Arthritis 
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced the initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II study of MLN3897, an orally active, small-molecule antagonist of the chemokine receptor CCR1, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 

Monday Nov 27, 2006
Synovial Cells Predict Response to TNF Inhibitors
The secret to why some RA patients respond to anti-TNF-α drugs and others do not may lie in the synovium…Tak P, et al. Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.

Monday Nov 27, 2006
Rituximab in RA
Rituximab prevents joint damage, can be given repeatedly, and does not block response to influenza vaccine in RA patients... Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.

Wednesday Nov 22, 2006
Smoking, Anti-CCP, Shared Epitope Have Complex Relationship in North American RA Patients
Smoking increases the risk of anti-CCP but has no clear interaction with shared epitope in North American RA patients... Irigoyen P. Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.

Wednesday Nov 22, 2006
Still No Final Word on Diskectomy vs Nonoperative Treatment for HNP
New data show no dramatic difference between diskectomy and nonoperative management of lumbar disk herniation—suggesting that individual patient preferences should play a major role in choice of treatment— and that there is no great risk in delaying surgery.

Wednesday Nov 22, 2006
Sosei Ends Development of AD 452 Following Failure to Achieve Primary and Secondary Endpoints in Phase IIb Clinical Trial for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sosei Group Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, announced that AD 452, a novel, small molecule cytokine modulator, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) being developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on a background of methotrexate, failed to meet its primary or secondary efficacy endpoints in a phase IIb clinical trial. As a consequence of these results Sosei has decided to discontinue with the development of this compound for the treatment of RA.

Thursday Nov 16, 2006
Immunomedic, UCB Phase III Trial of Epratuzumab in Lupus Patients No Longer on Clinical Hold
Immunomedics, Inc (MORRIS Plains, New Jersey), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, announced that their partner, UCB, SA (BRUSSELS, Belgium) has received notification from the US FDA that the clinical hold on existing trials with epratuzumab (a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the B-cell specific surface antigen CD22) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been lifted.

Thursday Nov 16, 2006
Can-Fite Presents Results Showing a Correlation Between High Expression of the Receptor Target for Its Drug CF101 and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients' Response to the Drug
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on a portfolio of orally bioavailable, highly selective, small molecule A(3) adenosine receptor (A[3]AR) agonists with potent activities in inflammation and cancer, announced that it presented results showing a correlation between high expression of the receptor target for its investigational A(3)AR agonist CF101 and the response of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to treatment with the drug, at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology and the 41st Annual Meeting of the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals in Washington, DC.

Thursday Nov 16, 2006
Anti-TNF-α Golimumab (CNTO 148), Under Development by Centocor and Schering-Plough, Provides Sustained Improvement in Moderately-to-Severely Active Rheumatoid Arthritis in Phase II Study
Centocor, Inc (HORSHAM, Pennsylvania), a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced that 1-year data, presented at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Washington, DC, showed that nearly 75% of patients with moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving golimumab (CNTO 148) and methotrexate experienced at least 20% improvement in arthritis symptoms (ACR 20) at week 52.

Thursday Nov 16, 2006
Abbott's HUMIRA (adalimumab) Approved in Canada for Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Abbott announced that it has received approval from Health Canada to market HumiraR (adalimumab) as a treatment for active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Canada.

Wednesday Nov 15, 2006
Three-Year BeSt Results Suggest MTX Plus Infliximab Can Move Some RA Patients Into Drug-Free Remission
Three-year results from the BeSt study suggest that early induction therapy with infliximab plus MTX can bring about remission in RA patients…Van Der Kooij SM, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting. 

Wednesday Nov 15, 2006
Is Resection Necessary? Meniscal Tears Rarely Cause Pain
Meniscal resection may do little to relieve pain among older patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), as meniscal tears are common but rarely cause any symptoms... Englund M, et al. Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.

Tuesday Nov 14, 2006
Single Nucleotide Change in IL-4 Receptor Gene Predicts Rapidly Erosive RA
Presence of a specific polymorphism in the IL-4 receptor, combined with rheumatoid factor and one copy of the HLA-DR shared epitope, predicts with 90% accuracy that a specific RA patient will develop erosive disease within 2 years... Skapenko A, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.

Tuesday Nov 14, 2006
PROMPT Study Shows "Window of Opportunity" in Early Undifferentiated Arthritis
Early MTX treatment can delay and possibly prevent progression to RA among anti-CCP positive patients who have early, undifferentiated arthritis... van Dongen H, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.

Tuesday Nov 14, 2006
Successful Anti-TNF Treatment Restores Regulatory T-Cell Function in RA
TNF inhibitor treatment can restore some of the lost T regulatory (suppressor) cell functioning in patients with RA, which might contribute to suppression of disease flares... Valencia X, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.

Monday Nov 13, 2006
Biomarkers Might Be Modifiable Risk Factors for RA
Autoantibodies may lead to risk reduction strategies for preventing RA... Holers VM. Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.

Monday Nov 13, 2006
Beyond HLA: Genetic Studies Find Markers Associated With Elevated Risk for RA

HLA DR4 is only one of the genetic factors involved in RA, and new genomics techniques are beginning to fill in the rest of the picture... Gregersen PK. Presented at ACR 2006 Meeting.

Monday Nov 13, 2006
Shortfall of Academic Rheumatologists May Jeopardize Specialty's Future
ACR President Mary K. Crow, MD, calls for solutions to help academic medical centers  recruit and retain talented rheumatologists... Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.

Thursday Nov 09, 2006
Novartis' Prexige Cleared for Approval in EU for Patients with Osteoarthritic Pain
Novartis announced that PrexigeR (lumiracoxib), an oral selective COX-2 inhibitor anti-inflammatory drug, has been cleared for approval in the European Union (EU) as a new treatment option for patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA).

Wednesday Nov 08, 2006
CombinatoRx Syncretic Drug Candidate CRx-102 Achieves Phase II Trial Endpoints in Rheumatoid Arthritis
CombinatoRx, Incorporated announced positive preliminary results of its phase II clinical trial of CRx-102, an oral synergistic combination drug candidate containing the generic cardiovascular agent dipyridamole and an unconventionally low dose (3mg, below the effective human dose) of the generic steroid prednisolone, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Wednesday Nov 08, 2006
Steroids May Prevent Lupus Flares in Some Patients with Stable SLE
Intervening with moderate doses of steroids can prevent lupus flares in the subgroup of patients with stable disease but rising anti-dsDNA and C3 levels...

Tuesday Nov 07, 2006
Ablynx, Wyeth Sign Exclusive Research and License Agreement for Nanobodies® Directed at TNF-α and Its Receptors
Ablynx, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of a novel class of therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments (Nanobodies®) announced that they have entered into a research collaboration and exclusive worldwide license agreement with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (a division of Wyeth) to discover, develop, and commercialize Nanobodies directed at TNF-α and its receptors, targeting diseases in multiple therapeutic areas.

Tuesday Nov 07, 2006
Study IDs Predictors of Poor Outcome in Enthesitis-Related Arthritis
Enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) patients tend to have worse outcomes than children  with other subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Predictors of poor outcome include family history of related diseases, the presence of HLA-DRB1*08, the absence of a protective HLA subtype, and persistently elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)…

Monday Nov 06, 2006
Array BioPharma Reports Success in Two Approaches to Inflammatory Disease: MEK Inhibitor Achieves Phase I Clinical Objectives; p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitor Advances into Clinical Development
Array BioPharma Inc. (BOULDER, Colorado), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of orally active, small molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer, announced preliminary results from a phase I clinical trial evaluating its first-in-class MEK (MAPK kinase) inhibitor for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Monday Nov 06, 2006
Risedronate Does Not Slow OA Progression or Decrease Pain But May Affect Cartilage Degradation
No effect on OA progression, signs, or symptoms seen in 2-year risedronate study...

Friday Nov 03, 2006
MTX Bests Sulfasalazine as DMARD of First Choice for Inflammatory Polyarthritis
Five-year data show that methotrexate and sulfasalazine have similar clinical effects as first DMARD in patients with inflammatory polyarthritis, but methotrexate is more effective at preventing radiological erosions...

Thursday Nov 02, 2006
Disappointing Results in Study of Stem Cells for Cartilage Repair
Hopes that adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) might be used to create chondrocytes for patching cartilage had a setback when researchers found that culturing them in the usual  chondrogenic medium did not produce tissues capable of becoming stable articular cartilage in vivo...

Thursday Nov 02, 2006
RCT Supports Acupuncture Benefit in Knee, Hip OA
Acupuncture combined with usual medical care results in improvements in both pain and quality of life among patients with chronic knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) compared with routine care alone...

Wednesday Nov 01, 2006
Community Physiotherapy, Pharmacy Review Can Help Knee OA Patients Reduce NSAID Use
Physiotherapists and pharmacists can safely and effectively deliver evidence-based care to patients with knee pain resulting in improvements in pain, high degree of patient satisfaction, and reduced use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, at least in the short term...

Wednesday Nov 01, 2006
Genzyme to Challenge Medicare Code and Reimbursement Decision for Synvisc
Genzyme Corporation, one of the world's leading biotechnology companies, announced that it will work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), government officials and, if necessary, through legal channels to dispute a CMS decision to group all viscosupplementation products into a single reimbursement code.

Wednesday Nov 01, 2006
Regeneron's Phase III Clincial Program for Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Trap, a Long Lasting IL-1 Inhibitor, Achieves Primary Endpoints in Studies with Patients Diagnosed with CAPS, a Spectrum of Rare Chronic Autoinflammatory Syndromes
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, announced positive data from a phase III clinical program designed to provide two separate demonstrations of efficacy for the investigational drug Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Trap within a single group of patients suffering from CAPS (CIAS1-related Autoinflammatory Periodic Syndromes).

Monday Oct 30, 2006
Neurochem Submits Complete Response to US FDA Approvable Letter for Eprodisate (KIACTAâ„¢) for the Treatment of Amyloid A Amyloidosis
Neurochem (International) Limited (Neurochem), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Neurochem Inc, headquartered in Québec, Canada, announced that it has submitted a complete response to the US FDA approvable letter for eprodisate (1,3-propanedisulfonate, Kiacta™, formerly Fibrillex™), an oral investigational product candidate for the treatment of amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis.
 

Thursday Oct 26, 2006
New Study Casts Doubt on Metabolic Dysfunction in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A new study comparing response to exercise in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) finds exercise more difficult in CFS/FM patients than in those with CFS alone, but casts doubt on metabolic explanations for CFS…Cook DB, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:3351–3362.

Wednesday Oct 25, 2006
NSAIDs/DMARDs Can Thwart Antibiotic-Refractory Lyme Arthritis
Report highlights effective postantibiotic strategies for treating antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis and identifies risk factors for the rare but vexing condition... Steere AC, Angelis SM. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:3079-3086

Wednesday Oct 25, 2006
Fracture Risk Higher in RA Patients
RA patients are at an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures due to a combination of disease activity, low BMI,  and oral glucocorticoid use... van Staa, TP, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:3104–3112.

Tuesday Oct 24, 2006
Xencor Gains $45 Million in Financing to Be Used in Part to Advance Into Phase I Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials, XProâ„¢ 1595, a Dominant-Negative Inhibitor of TNF-α
Xencor, a company developing protein and antibody therapeutics, announced that it raised $45 million in a private financing led by MedImmune Ventures, Inc, and including new investors Novo Nordisk and HealthCare Ventures, as well as existing investor Zen Investments.

Monday Oct 23, 2006
Etanercept/MTX Uncouple Inflammation and Joint Destruction in RA
RA patients treated with etanercept plus methotrexate have less radiographic progression of joint damage than patients who take either drug alone, even if they continue to have inflammation or other makers of active disease....

Thursday Oct 19, 2006
Access to TNF-Blockers Severely Limited in UK
Access to TNF-inhibitor treatment is limited even for British RA patients who meet official guidelines for treatment, and is even more limited for patients with psoriatic arthritis or  ankylosing spondylitis ... Kay, LJ, et al. Rheumatology. 2006 Oct 11; [Epub ahead of print].

Thursday Oct 19, 2006
Conventional strength training program has little effect on knee OA progression
Conventional strength training exercises have little effect on progression of knee osteoarthritis... Mikesky AE, et al. Arthritis Care & Research 2006;55:690-693.

Thursday Oct 19, 2006
Lexicon Genetics Initiates Formal Preclinical Development for LX2931 for Autoimmune Disease
Lexicon Genetics Incorporated, an emerging biopharmaceutical company employing its proprietary gene knockout technology to discover knockout-validated drug targets, announced that it is initiating formal preclinical development for LX2931 in preparation for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application.

Wednesday Oct 18, 2006
Rigel Selects a Novel JAK3 Inhibitor for Advanced Preclinical Development for Immune-Mediated Diseases
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage drug development company focused on small-molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, cancer, and viral diseases, announced that it has selected R348, a potent and selective inhibitor of janus tyrosine kinase 3 (JAK3), to enter preclinical studies to support an investigational new drug application planned for 2007...

Thursday Oct 12, 2006
MRI Predicts Which Children with Monoarthritis Will Develop Aggressive Disease
MRI scans of clinically unaffected knees in children with monoarthritis can predict who will develop widespread joint disease within the next year... Gardner-Medwin JM, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006; 15 Sept; [Epub ahead of print]

Tuesday Oct 10, 2006
Trubion Initiates Phase IIb Clinical Trial of CD20-Targeted TRU-015 for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced it has initiated a phase IIb clinical trial of TRU-015, the company's lead Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical (SMIPâ„¢) CD20-targeted drug candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via B-cell depletion...

Thursday Oct 05, 2006
Little Gained From Combining Etanercept and Sulfasalazine in RA
Patients whose RA is active despite treatment with sulfasalazine benefit from switching to etanercept, but combining the two drugs provides little additional benefit... Combe B, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:1357-1362.

Tuesday Oct 03, 2006
Genzyme's Synvisc Receives European Approval to Expand Label to Include the Treatment of OA Pain of the Ankle and Shoulder
Genzyme Corporation announced that it has received European approval to expand the CE mark labeling for SynviscR (hylan G-F 20) to include treatment of pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle and shoulder. Genzyme expects to begin marketing Synvisc in the EU with its new label immediately.

Monday Oct 02, 2006
Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Seen in Leflunomide-Treated RA Patient
A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis associated with leflunomide treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has been reported... Wardwell NR, et al. Respirology. 2006;11:663-665.

Friday Sep 29, 2006
Amgen to Acquire Avidia Including Its Phase I Clinical Stage Interleukin-6 Inhibitor and Novel Avimer Protein Platform
Amgen announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amgen has agreed to acquire Avidia, a privately held biopharmaceutical company located in Mountain View, Calif., that discovers and develops a new class of human therapeutic known as Avimerâ„¢ (from avidity multimers) proteins.

Thursday Sep 28, 2006
RA Skin Problems Related or Due to Disease or Treatment?
Skin problems are more common in RA patients than in those with non-inflammatory diseases, but only steroid-related bruising and athlete's foot appear to be related to either RA itself or its treatment.

Tuesday Sep 26, 2006
Genmab Completes Accrual in Anti-CD20 Antibody Phase II RA Study
Genmab A/S, a biotechnology company that creates and develops human antibodies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory conditions, cancer, and infectious disease, announced it has completed enrollment in the HuMax-CD20â„¢ (ofatumumab) phase II study to treat patients with active RA who have failed treatment with one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including biologics.

Tuesday Sep 26, 2006
New Markers Predict Lupus Kidney, Heart Risks
Cholesterol, homocysteine, and hs-CRP show promise as markers for elevated risk in lupus patients. Tisseverasinghe A, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 54:2211-2219; Von Feldt JM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 54:2220-2227; Karadag O, et al. Clin Rheumatol. 2006; [Epub ahead of print]

Tuesday Sep 26, 2006
Can-Fite BioPharma Licenses Its A(3) Adenosine Receptor Agonist (CF101) to Seikagaku to Develop and Market in Japan for Inflammatory diseases
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on a portfolio of orally bioavailable, highly selective, small-molecule A(3) adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists with potent activities in inflammation and cancer, announced that it has signed an exclusive license agreement with a Japanese research-based pharmaceutical company, Seikagaku Corporation, to develop and market its lead orally bioavailable A3AR agonist, CF101 (1-deoxy-1-(6-[([3-iodophenyl] methyl) amino]-9H-purin-9-yl)-N-methyl-β-d-ribofuranuronamide), in Japan for the treatment of inflammatory indications including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but not including ophthalmic indications.

Monday Sep 25, 2006
NSAIDs Linked to Acute MI Risk Similar to Coxibs
The risk of acute MI is increased by most nonselective NSAIDs about as much as by the coxibs, and both should be used cautiously in patients who have other cardiovascular risk factors...

Monday Sep 25, 2006
Rituximab Quickly Reduces Disease Activity in Treatment-Resistant RA
Rituximab added to methotrexate significantly reduces disease activity in patients whose RA is resistant to TNF inhibitors... Cohen SB, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2793-2806.

Thursday Sep 21, 2006
Avidia Initiates Clinical Trial of Avimerâ„¢ C326, an Inhibitor of Interleukin-6, for Crohn's Disease
vidia, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a new class of small, assembled human therapeutic proteins called Avimersâ„¢ (from avidity multimers), announced that it has initiated dosing of the first patient for a phase I clinical trial of its Avimer drug candidate C326, an inhibitor of interleukin-6 (IL-6), for the treatment of Crohn's disease.

Thursday Sep 21, 2006
Abatacept Should Not be Used with Etanercept to Treat RA
The combination of etanercept and abatacept increased serious adverse effects and provided little clinical benefit for patients with RA... Weinblatt M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;25 August 2006 [Epub ahead of print]

Tuesday Sep 19, 2006
TNF Inhibitors Do Not Increase Cancer Risk More Than MTX in RA Patients
A study of 1152 RA patients who used biologics and 7306 treated with methotrexate concludes that the risk of cancer is about the same in both groups, once RA disease severity is considered. Setoguchi S, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2757-2764.

Tuesday Sep 19, 2006
Predix (now known as EPIX) Signs Exclusive Collaboration and License Agreement with Amgen, Potentially Worth Over $307.5 Million, for the Development of S1P1 Modulators for Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases; Predix Completes Merger with EPIX
Predix Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. announced an exclusive collaboration and licensing deal with Amgen to develop Predix's existing preclinical and new, orally available S1P1 modulators for autoimmune diseases.

Tuesday Sep 19, 2006
Ibuprofen After Hip Replacement Does More Harm Than Good
The common practice of taking ibuprofen after total hip replacement reduces ectopic bone formation but has no significant effect on pain or function and doubles the risk of serious bleeding complications. Frasen M, et al. BMJ. 2006; 2 Aug 2006 [Epub ahead of print]

Monday Sep 18, 2006
Novartis' Once-Yearly Reclast Investigational Infusion Osteoporosis Treatment Significantly Cuts Risk of Spine and Hip Fractures in Postmenopausal Women
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced that phase III data presented at the 28th Annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), September 15–19, 2006, in Philadelphia, Pa, demonstrated that its investigational, once-yearly bisphosphonate 15-minute infusion treatment, Reclast® (zoledronic acid) 5 mg, was highly effective at reducing the incidence of bone fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis across the most common fracture sites—hip, spine, and nonspine (with the exception of face, fingers, and toes)—with sustained effect over 3 years.

Thursday Sep 14, 2006
Gout Is an Independent Risk Factor for Acute MI
New data show that gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis in the US population, is the third highest risk factor for acute MI after smoking and family history... Krishnan E, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2688-2696.

Thursday Sep 14, 2006
Imatinib Blocks Development of RA in Mouse Model
Imatinib (Gleevec), a drug that has revolutionized cancer treatment, also blocks the development of RA in a mouse model by inhibiting tyrosine kinases that cause joint inflammation and damage.... Paniagua RT, et al. J Clin Invest. 2006 Oct [Epub ahead of print].

Thursday Sep 14, 2006
Anthera Licenses Portfolio of Anti-Inflammatory Products from Lilly and Shionogi; Raises $36 Million in Venture Financing
Anthera Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company and Shionogi & Co., Ltd., under which Anthera has obtained worldwide (except for Japan) development and commercialization rights to an entire platform of clinical and preclinical inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) developed by Lilly and Shionogi as part of their collaboration.

Wednesday Sep 13, 2006
Can-Fite BioPharma to Develop Its A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonist (CF101) for Psoriasis
Can-Fite BioPharma, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on a portfolio of orally bioavailable, highly selective, small-molecule A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists with potent activities in inflammation and cancer, announced the intent to initiate a phase II clinical trial in psoriasis for its lead drug candidate, CF101.

Tuesday Sep 12, 2006
BioLineRx In-Licenses Novel Antisense Drug for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases
BioLineRx announced that it has signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement with B.G. Negev Technologies Ltd., the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and Mor Research Applications, Ltd., the Technology Transfer Office of Clalit Health Services, for the development and commercialization of BL-3030, a novel antisense drug inhibiting the formation of the enzyme cPLA2 (cytosolic phospholipase A2)for the treatment of inflammatory diseases...

Tuesday Sep 12, 2006
CNS Uses p38, TNFα  to Upregulate Joint Inflammatory Responses
The p38 MAP kinase links the central nervous system and peripheral responses via a pathway that includes TNF-α. Blocking those communications within the spinal cord by intrathecal administration of either a p38 inhibitor or etanercept dramatically reduces swelling, synovial inflammation, and joint destruction in an animal model of RA.... 

Monday Sep 11, 2006
Small, Portable In-Office MRI Can Monitor Response to Therapy in RA
As RA treatments become more effective and expensive, monitoring response to therapy becomes more important. Two new studies suggest that small, portable MRI devices might help...

Monday Sep 11, 2006
Abbott Seeks US and EU Approvals for HUMIRA (Adalimumab) for Crohn's Disease
Abbott announced it has simultaneously submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application with the US FDA and a Type II Variation to the European Medicines Agency seeking approval to market HUMIRA^R (adalimumab) as a treatment for moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease...

Thursday Sep 07, 2006
Rigel Starts Phase II Study of its Oral Kinase Inhibitor, R788, in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, announced that it has initiated enrollment and dosing of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of its lead product candidate, R788, an oral syk kinase inhibitor that blocks the activation of the mast cells, macrophages, and B-cells that promote swelling and an inflammatory response. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending dose, dose ranging study will evaluate up to three doses of R788...

Thursday Sep 07, 2006
First Trimester NSAID Use Raises Risk of Birth Defects
Women who use NSAIDs during the first trimester of pregnancy are significantly more likely to bear children with congenital heart problems or other birth defects... Ofori B, et al. Birth Defects Research (Part B). 21 August 2006 [Epub ahead of print]

Thursday Sep 07, 2006
Overall Lupus Mortality Drops, but SLE Cardiovascular Death Rates Increase
As death rates continue to plummet in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), physicians need to treat cardiovascular symptoms aggressively while balancing the need for immune suppressant therapy against the risk of fatal infection... Bernatsky S, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2550-2557

Wednesday Sep 06, 2006
Logical Therapeutics Launches Operations With Seed Capital and In-Licenses Novel Anti-Inflammatory Drug From Medinox
Logical Therapeutics, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapeutic agents to treat medical conditions caused by poorly controlled or excessive inflammatory responses, announced that it has completed a Seed round of financing in partnership with PA Early Stage Partners...

Tuesday Sep 05, 2006
Medarex and GenPat77 to Codevelop Humanized Therapeutic Antibodies Against Immune Modulatory Targets
Medarex, Inc. and GenPat77 Pharmacogenetics AG have entered into a collaborative agreement to develop fully human therapeutic antibody products...

Tuesday Sep 05, 2006
RF Stronger Marker Than Anti-CCP for Extra-articular RA
New data show that RF is the best biomarker for severe extra-articular RA, and the association gives further clues to the causes of extra-articular manifestations in some RA patients...

Friday Sep 01, 2006
NMDA Receptor Antibodies Tied to Depression in Lupus, But Not to Cognitive Changes
Anti-NR2 antibodies, which target the NMDA receptor, are associated with depression in patients with lupus but not with cognitive dysfunction... Lapteva L, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2505-2514.

Thursday Aug 31, 2006
Genizon Grants Exclusive License for Crohn's Disease GeneMap to Genentech
Genizon BioSciences, a gene and drug target discovery company, announced a license and collaboration agreement with Genentech, Inc. under which Genizon granted Genentech an exclusive license to Genizon's GeneMap of disease-associated genes generated from a whole genome association study of Crohn's disease patients from the Quebec Founder Population...

Wednesday Aug 30, 2006
Joint Distraction May Delay Need for Joint Replacement in Advanced Osteoarthritis
Temporarily stretching knees or ankles a bit to take the load off cartilage and subchondral bone promotes healing, reduces pain, improves function, and might help some osteoarthritis patients defer or even avoid total joint replacement...

Monday Aug 28, 2006
Etanercept Maintains Clinical Benefit for Patients Who Must Drop Infliximab
Patients who respond to infliximab but must discontinue due to side effects maintain clinical benefit if switched to etanercept...

Monday Aug 28, 2006
GlaxoSmithKline and ChemoCentryx Establish Worldwide Strategic Alliance to Develop Therapies for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases; ChemoCentryx May Pocket More Than $1.5 Billion, Raises $17.7 Million in Series C Financing
GlaxoSmithKline and ChemoCentryx, Inc., a company focused on orally-administered, small-molecule therapeutics that target the chemokine and chemoattractant receptor systems, announced a worldwide multitarget strategic alliance to discover, develop, and market novel medicines targeting four chemokine and chemoattractant receptors for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), acute macular degeneration, and asthma...

Thursday Aug 24, 2006
Does Skipping Breakfast Endanger Your Joints?
New data from chondroitin researchers suggests that low sulfate levels in blood might lead to poor-quality cartilage by causing undersulfation of chondroitin in the joints... Blinn CM, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;651223-1225.

Thursday Aug 24, 2006
Apparent Changes in Joint Space Often Due to Changes in the Meniscus
New research suggesting that alterations in the meniscus contribute a large proportion to variations in joint space narrowing (JSN) may have ramifications for how clinical trials of disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs are conducted... Hunter DJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum.  2006;54:2488-2495.

Thursday Aug 24, 2006
Merck's Investigational Selective COX-2 Inhibitor, ARCOXIA (Etoricoxib), for Arthritis and Pain Yields Mixed Clinical Results Against the NSAID Diclofenac
Merck & Co, Inc. announced preliminary analyses of the MEDAL (Multinational Etoricoxib and Diclofenac Arthritis Long-Term) program study as showing the rate of confirmed thrombotic cardiovascular (CV) events to be similar between the selective COX-2 inhibitor ARCOXIAâ„¢ (the planned successor to Vioxx) and diclofenac, the most widely prescribed traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Wednesday Aug 23, 2006
Genzyme Files for European Approval to Expand Label for Synvisc in Ankle and Shoulder Indications
Genzyme Corp. announced that it has filed with the European authority to expand the continuing education mark for Synvisc® (hylan G-F 20) to include treatment of pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle and shoulder...

Wednesday Aug 23, 2006
Niche Use Seen for SSZ in Inflammatory Back Pain
SSZ may be useful in patients with inflammatory back pain who do not have peripheral arthritis... Braun J, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:1147-1153

Monday Aug 21, 2006
Osiris IPO Raises $38.5 Million to Advance Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapies
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. announced that underwriters sold 3.5 million shares of its common stock at a price of $11.00 per share, achieving the lower end of the targeted share price for its initial public offering and raising $38.5 million.

Friday Aug 18, 2006
Neurochem Receives Approvable Letter from US FDA for Eprodisate (Kiactaâ„¢) for the Treatment of Amyloid A Amyloidosis
Neurochem, Inc. announced that it has received an Approvable Letter from the US FDA for eprodisate (1,3-propanedisulfonate, Kiactaâ„¢, formerly Fibrillexâ„¢), an oral investigational product candidate for the treatment of Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis.

Friday Aug 18, 2006
OA Radiography Correlates Well with Knee Pain, New Study Shows
A new study of radiographic changes in patients with knee pain finds  a consistent association between pain severity, stiffness, and physical function and the presence of radiographic osteoarthritis. .... Duncan R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 July 28; [Epub ahead of print]

Friday Aug 18, 2006
Merck Loses in Latest Vioxx Decisions
Merck lost in federal court and had a win in state court reversed in the latest round of Vioxx litigation.

Thursday Aug 17, 2006
Superagonist Trial Hit By Cytokine Storm
The six patients who nearly died in a phase I trial of an experimental anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody being developed as a rheumatoid arthritis treatment were injured by "cytokine storms" triggered by the new drug, and the head of the intensive care unit where their lives were saved thinks this demonstrates that a new approach to testing biologic agents is needed....Suntharalingam G, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006; August 14; [Epub ahead of print].

Thursday Aug 17, 2006
Early Diagnosis of AS: Dr. Rudwaleit Does the Math to Make It Easy
Diagnosing early ankylosing spondylitis in a patient with chronic back pain may be easier with a simple method based on standard tests and symptoms... Rudwaleit M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:1251-1252.

Wednesday Aug 16, 2006
Biogen Idec and University of Adelaide Find TWEAK Is a Novel Arthritogenic Mediator; Potential New Pathway in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Disease Process
Biogen Idec announced studies published in the August 15, 2006, issue of the providing evidence that TWEAK (TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis), a TNF family member, is a novel arthritogenic mediator that contributes to joint tissue inflammation, angiogenesis, and destruction, and may inhibit endogenous repair.

Tuesday Aug 15, 2006
Centocor's REMICADE Receives Expanded Psoriatic Arthritis Indication
Centocor, Inc. announced that the US FDA has expanded marketing approval for Remicade® (infliximab) to inhibiting the progression of structural damage and improving physical function in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), in addition to reducing the signs and symptoms of active arthritis. 

Monday Aug 14, 2006
Lower IL-4, IL-10 Levels Seen as Possible Basis for Fibromyalgia Test
New research showing that patients with chronic  widespread pain have significantly lower levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin (IL)-4  and IL-10 may help doctors develop a cytokine expression profile that can aid in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Üçeyler, N, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2656-2664

Monday Aug 14, 2006
TissueGene Initiates Phase I Study of TissueGene-C in Patients With Degenerative Joint Disease of the Knee Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty
TissueGene, Inc. announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial of the company's cell-mediated therapy, TissueGene-C (TG-C).

Friday Aug 11, 2006
Fish Oil Reduces CV Risk Factors, NSAID Requirements in RA Patients
Two tablespoons of fish oil per day significantly improved some cardiovascular risk factors and reduced NSAID requirements in patients with rheumatoid arthritis... Cleland LG, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 Aug 01; [Epub ahead of print]

Thursday Aug 10, 2006
More RA Patients May Need Lipid-Lowering Treatment
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death for rheumatoid arthritis patients, and many may be candidates for lipid-lowering therapies. Soubrier M, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 July 15 [Epub ahead of print]

Thursday Aug 10, 2006
Michigan Researchers to Study ACL Injuries, Bone Bruises, in Knee OA
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in young athletes and often lead to later knee osteoarthritis (OA). A new prospective study will try to determine whether bone bruises add to that risk.

Wednesday Aug 09, 2006
Low Estrogen Levels Increase Risk of Knee OA in Women
Low concentrations of estradiol and urinary 2-hydroxyestrone may increase the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis among women approaching menopause... Sowers MFR, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2481-2487.

Tuesday Aug 08, 2006
Geron and University of Edinburgh to Collaborate in Conducting Preclinical Studies with Cell Types Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Musculoskeletal Applications
Geron Corporation and the University of Edinburgh announced that they have entered into a collaboration to conduct preclinical safety and efficacy studies with three cell types derived from human embryonic stem cells.

Friday Aug 04, 2006
Do Oral Contraceptives Protect Against RA Development?
Use of oral contraceptives may protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while smoking may increase the risk of developing the autoimmune disorder ... Bhatia, SS, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 July 25; [Epub ahead of print].

Thursday Aug 03, 2006
British Registry Data Show Safety of First-Trimester TNF Inhibitor Exposure, Safety of Later Use Still Unclear
Data from a British registry of TNF inhibitor users suggest that brief exposure to TNF inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy is not harmful either to women who inadvertently become pregnant while taking these drugs or to their babies, but raise questions about safety in later pregnancy... Hyrich KL, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2701-2702.

Wednesday Aug 02, 2006
Fear of Pain Robs Arthritis Patients of Chance for Pain-Relieving Exercise
Fear of pain is a major reason people with arthritis avoid exercise, and many are unaware that regular exercise can reduce pain and prevent disability. …Wilcox, S, et al. Arthritis Care Res. August 2006; DOI: 10.1002/art.22098

Tuesday Aug 01, 2006
Schering-Plough's REMICADE Receives EU Approval as Monotherapy for Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis; Abbott's HUMIRA Receives FDA Approval for Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Schering-Plough Corporation announced that the European Commission approved the use of REMICADE® (infliximab) as monotherapy in the treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients who show intolerance to methotrexate (MTX) or for whom MTX is contraindicated.

Monday Jul 31, 2006
Expert Scientific Group Proposes Recommendations to Improve Safety of First-In-Man Clinical Trials Following TeGenero's TGN 1412 Drug Trial
The Expert Scientific Group on phase I clinical trials, an independent committee established by the UK Secretary of State for Health to examine the safety and design of first-in-man clinical studies involving biologic molecules with novel mechanisms of action, new investigational agents with a highly species-specific action, and new drugs directed toward immune system targets, has published its interim report for public comment.

Friday Jul 28, 2006
Serono Initiates First Large-Scale European Pharmaco-Epidemiologic Study to Gather Additional Safety Data on RaptivaR in Psoriasis
Serono announced that it has initiated a prospective 7-year cohort, multi-national, multicenter study in more than 7000 adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who have been treated with RaptivaR (efalizumab).

Thursday Jul 27, 2006
ZymoGenetics Report Positive Preliminary Findings from Atacicept (TACI-Ig) Phase Ib Studies in Patients with Lupus
ZymoGenetics, Inc, announced preliminary positive findings from two phase Ib clinical trials in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with atacicept.

Thursday Jul 27, 2006
FDA Approves 13 Generic Versions of Mobic
FDA approves 13 meloxicam formulations for the treatment of osteoarthritis

Wednesday Jul 26, 2006
Can-Fite BioPharma Initiates Multi-National Phase IIb Study of A(3) Adenosine Receptor Agonist (CF101) in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Can-Fite BioPharma announced that it has initiated a phase IIb clinical study of CF101 (1-deoxy-1-[6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purine-9-yl]-N-methyl-D-ribofuranuronamide), an A3AR agonist exclusively licensed from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Can-Fite's lead drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Tuesday Jul 25, 2006
Nuvo's Pennsaid® NDA Resubmission for the Treatment of Osteoporosis Accepted for Review by US FDA
Nuvo Research Inc announced that it has resubmitted its New Drug Application (NDA) for Pennsaid® (1.5% w/w diclofenac sodium solution), a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee to the US FDA.

Monday Jul 24, 2006
RA Patients with Persistently High ESR Rate at Greater Risk for Heart Failure
Rheumatoid arthritis with persistently elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate values   are at especially high risk of heart failure and should be monitored accordingly... Maradit-Kremers H, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 3 July 2006. doi:10.1136/ard.2006.053710

Friday Jul 21, 2006
Study Suggests Glucosamine Not So Safe After All
People with untreated diabetes who take glucosamine may experience spikes in glucose levels when they take supplements of glucosamine…Biggee BA, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online: 3 July 2006. doi:10.1136/ard.2006.058222.

Friday Jul 21, 2006
UCB's CIMZIATM Achieves PASI 75 at Week 12 of 83% in Phase II for Psoriasis
UCB announced positive results from the first phase II clinical trial of CIMZIATM (certolizumab pegol, CDP870), the first and only PEGylated Fab' fragment of a humanized anti-TNF-α antibody, in the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Thursday Jul 20, 2006
Actelion's Orally Active Selective S1P1 Receptor Agonist to be Jointly Developed/Promoted with Roche in Autoimmune Disorders and Transplantation; Deal Potentially Worth Well Over US$630 Million to Actelion
Actelion Ltd and Roche have announced that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize Actelion's selective S1P1 receptor agonist, an immunomodulator with the potential for once-a-day oral dosing.  testing.

Thursday Jul 20, 2006
Bioengineered Cartilage Successfully Transplanted in Osteoarthritic Knees
Cells taken from areas of healthy cartilage can be grown on hyaluronic acid scaffolds and used to patch damaged knees, even joints that have already progressed to osteoarthritis....Hollander AP,  et al. Tissue Engineering 2006;12:1-12.

Wednesday Jul 19, 2006
TeGenero Files for Insolvency as Investors Evaporate Following Disastrous First-In-Man Phase I Trial of Superagonistic Anti-CD28 Antibody for Autoimmune Diseases and Leukemia  
TeGenero AG has filed for the commencement of insolvency proceedings at the competent local court/insolvency court because the serious adverse reactions caused by the investigational agent TGN1412 in the March 2006, first-in-man, phase I trial made it impossible to attract the investment necessary for the company to continue operations.

Wednesday Jul 19, 2006
ZymoGenetics and Serono Obtain Positive Results from TACI-Ig Phase Ib Trial in RA
ZymoGenetics, Inc, and Serono announced results from an exploratory dose-escalating, single- and repeat-dose phase Ib clinical trial with TACI-Ig (atacicept) in 73 adult patients with active, moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Wednesday Jul 19, 2006
Metabolic Syndrome Correlates With High Disease Activity in RA
Metabolic syndrome correlates with higher disease severity in RA. Karvounaris SA, et al. Ann Rheum Dis; published online June 22, 2006.

Tuesday Jul 18, 2006
Protalex Raises $15.2 Million to Advance PRTX-100 in Phase II for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Protalex, Inc, announced that it has raised approximately $15.2 million in gross proceeds in a private placement. Investors participating in this transaction include LBI Group Inc, vSpring Capital, CIDC Inc, Emerging Technology Partners, and additional selected institutional and accredited private investors.

Monday Jul 17, 2006
LTKfarma Starts Operations With Lead Product for Autoimmune Diseases and Leukemia Already in Phase I/II, Names Advisory Board
LTKfarma, a biopharmaceutical company founded in March 2006 and focused on developing and marketing cell therapy products derived from modified T-cells to treat autoimmune diseases and leukemia announced its creation and the appointment of its advisory board....

Monday Jul 17, 2006
Relative Risk for CVD Highest in Young RA Patients
The relative risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is highest among young patients and those without a history of prior events, but the absolute risk  is greatest among older patients…Solomon DH, et al. Ann Rheum Dis; published online June 22, 2006.

Friday Jul 14, 2006
Researchers Map the Genetic Substrate of RA
Two new reports on genetics and RA show that a mutation in the PTPN22 gene not only increases RA susceptibility but hastens disease progression and that development of RA is associated with altered expression of disease-associated genes, apparently in response to environmental or other nongenetic factors. Lie B, et al. EULAR 2006; Haas CS, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2047-2060.

Saturday Jul 08, 2006
New Study Supports Steroid Injections for Hip OA
Data from a new randomized, controlled trial support the EULAR recommendation on steroid injections for hip OA....Lambert RG, et al. EULAR 2006.

Friday Jul 07, 2006
Infliximab Resistance, Infusion Reactions Linked to Immune Complex Formation
RA patients who do not respond to infliximab are likely to have infliximab/anti-infliximab immune complexes due to high levels of human antichimeric antibodies, and very large immune complexes may play a role in infliximab infusion reactions....van der Laken CJ, et al. Ann Rheum Dis.  2006; epub ahead of print.

Thursday Jul 06, 2006
Fetal DNA in Maternal Serum Linked to RA Improvement in Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related improvements in RA disease activity parallel the levels of fetal DNA in maternal serum, suggesting a possible vaccine strategy …Yan Z, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:2069-2073.

Friday Jun 30, 2006
Consider Disease Duration in Comparing Functional Outcomes of RA Treatment
Measures of physical function such as the HAQ become less responsive to treatment effects with increasing duration of RA, so disease duration should be considered in comparing functional outcomes of different treatments...Aletaha D. 2006 EULAR Meeting.

Tuesday Jun 27, 2006
Questions About Hand OA Radiography Raised at EULAR
New radiographic standards for hand OA are needed. ...Watt I. EULAR 2006 Meeting' June 21-24, 2006, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Abstract SP0059.

Tuesday Jun 27, 2006
Keep Prescribing MTX, Using X-rays for RA, EULAR Told
Pre-symptomatic diagnosis and better drugs should make RA remission for all a possibility within 10 years...Smolen, J. Presented&nbsp;at: EULAR 2006, 21-24 June 2006, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Tuesday Jun 27, 2006
Ultrasound Recommended for Long-Term Monitoring of RA Treatment Response
Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surpass conventional radiography for detecting clinical improvement and regression of synovitis in RA finger joints, and musculoskeletal US provides the most cost-effective routine monitoring of disease activity and treatment response. Scheel AK, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:595–600.

Tuesday Jun 27, 2006
Abbott Receives FDA Approval for New HUMIRA® Injection Device
Abbott Laboratories announced that the US FDA approved the HUMIRA® Pen, a new single-use, disposable, pen-like device for administering HUMIRA, a treatment approved in the US for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis and for active psoriatic arthritis....

Tuesday Jun 27, 2006
Entremed's 2ME2 Demonstrates Antiangiogenic Activity in Rat Model of Chronic Autoimmune Inflammatory Joint Disease
EntreMed, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer, announced the presentation of preclinical data for its lead compound, 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)....

Monday Jun 26, 2006
Lupus Treatment Moving "From Serendipity to Sense"
Lupus research has had a very good year... Isenberg DA. EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21-24, 2006; Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Abstract SP0139.

Saturday Jun 24, 2006
PROMPT Trial Suggests Prompt MTX Stops Undifferentiated Arthritis Progression to RA
Patients with undifferentiated arthritis who are anti-CCP- or RF-positive are likely to have significantly slower progression to rheumatoid arthritis if treated with early MTX... Van Dongen H, et al. 2006 EULAR Meeting; June 21–24; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract OP0001.

Saturday Jun 24, 2006
New Imaging Methods Show Ligament Damage Is the First Stage of Hand OA
New, high-resolution MRI and PET imaging are bringing the details of hand OA into focus, and show that changes in ligaments are the first signs of disease... Tan AL. 2006 EULAR Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract SP0060.

Saturday Jun 24, 2006
Doctors Urged to Recognize Toll RA Takes on Patient's Sex Life
Health practitioners should be willing to provide information about sexual aids and positions that will allow patients with rheumatoid arthritis to continue to enjoy a healthy sex life without risking joint pain or damage... Helland Y, et al. EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract OP0134.

Saturday Jun 24, 2006
Experts to Issue Psoriatic Arthritis Remission Guidelines
PsA remission now in our sights, say IMPACT trial investigators at the EULAR 2006 meeting... Kavanaugh A, et al. EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract OP0104.

Friday Jun 23, 2006
Tocilizumab Hot New Treatment for Rheumatoid Disorders
The interleukin-6 receptor blocker tocilizumab (Actemra®; Chugai/Roche) emerged at the 2006 EULAR meeting as one of the hottest new prospects for the treatment of rheumatoid disorders... Nishimoto N, et al. 2006 EULAR Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Friday Jun 23, 2006
Quick Response to Steroids, Symmetrical Joint Pain Distinguish PMR From Elderly-Onset RA
Clinical and laboratory findings tend to be unhelpful in distinguishing between rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica in the elderly; instead, the symmetric involvement of peripheral joints and the rapid response to low-dose oral corticosteroid therapy should be considered key diagnostic features of PMR... Salvarani, C. 2006 EULAR meeting; June 21–24 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Friday Jun 23, 2006
Rituximab Inhibits Progression of Joint Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rituximab plus MTX significantly slows joint damage in RA... Keystone E, et al. 2006 EULAR Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Thursday Jun 22, 2006
JRA Patients Do Better With Adalimumab, With or Without MTX
Phase III data show that adalimumab quickly and durably reduces disease flares and improves response rates in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis... Ruperto N; 2006 EULAR Meeting. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65(suppl):OP0007.

Wednesday Jun 21, 2006
Thalidomide, IL-6 Inhibitors Seen As Possible Treatments in JIA
Thalidomide, IL-6 receptor inhibitors, and genomics were highlights of the overview of JIA presented by Patricia Woo, MD, at the 2006 EULAR Meeting...

Tuesday Jun 20, 2006
Abatacept Effective in MTX-Resistant RA
Abatacept (Orencia®) significantly reduces disease activity and retards radiographic progression in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite treatment with methotrexate... Kremer JM, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:865-876.

Tuesday Jun 20, 2006
VLST Raises $55 Million in Series B Financing to Develop Treatments for Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders
VLST Corporation, of Seattle, Washington, announced that it has raised $55 million in Series B financing...

Monday Jun 19, 2006
EULAR Issues First Gout Guidelines in Advance of Annual Meeting
The EULAR Gout Task Force has issued a two-part set of evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout... Zhang W, et al. Ann Rheum Dis [serial online]; 17 May 2006.

Monday Jun 19, 2006
Ultrasound Recommended for Long-Term Monitoring of RA Treatment Response
Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging surpass conventional radiography for detecting clinical improvement and regression of synovitis in RA finger joints, and musculoskeletal ultrasound likely provides the most cost-effective routine monitoring of disease activity and treatment response... Scheel AK, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:595-600.

Thursday Jun 15, 2006
Intraarticular Steroids May Also Protect Bone
Intraarticular steroids modulate the nuclear factor B ligand/osteoprotegerin system toward a bone-protective effect in inflammatory arthritis... Makrygiannakis D, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54;1463-1472.

Wednesday Jun 14, 2006
4-Year Follow-up Finds Etanercept Safe, Effective in JRA
Long-term data show continued improvement, acceptable safety in children with JRA treated with etanercept for 4 or more years... Lovell DJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;5:1987-1994.

Wednesday Jun 14, 2006
Arthritis Gene Therapy Inches Forward
TNF inhibitors and other biologicals may command more attention, and stem cells may be more controversial, but arthritis gene therapy continues to move quietly ahead... Evans C, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1714-1729.

Monday Jun 12, 2006
Music Relieves Pain, Depression, and Disability in Chronic Pain Patients
An hour or two a day of self-selected music decreased pain, depression, and disability levels in patients with chronic nonmalignant pain... Siedliecki SL, Good M. J Adv Nurs. 2006;54:553-562.

Monday Jun 12, 2006
Regeneron's IL-1 Trap Receives Fast-Track Designation From US FDA for CIAS1-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS)
Regeneron's IL-1 Trap has received fast-track designation from the US FDA for CIAS1-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), a family of rare autoinflammatory diseases...

Monday Jun 12, 2006
Galapagos and GSK Form Drug Discovery and Development Alliance in Osteoarthritis
Galapagos NV, of Mechelen, Belgium, and GlaxoSmithKline announced a drug discovery and development alliance in OA...

Monday Jun 12, 2006
Abbott's Humira® Approved in European Union for Severe Ankylosing Spondylitis
Abbott Laboratories announced that Humira® (adalimumab) was approved by the European Commission for marketing in Europe as a treatment for severe, active ankylosing spondylitis...

Friday Jun 09, 2006
Cytopia Signs Exclusive License and Collaboration Agreement With Novartis for JAK3 Kinase Inhibitors in Autoimmune Diseases and Transplant Rejection
Cytopia Ltd announced the execution of a worldwide license and R&D collaboration agreement with Novartis to develop orally active, small-molecule therapeutics targeting JAK3 kinase...

Monday Jun 05, 2006
PsA Enthesopathy As Cause of Plantar Fasciitis Responds to TNF Inhibitors
The TNF inhibitors infliximab and etanercept are both effective for the treatment of enthesopathy associated with psoriatic arthritis... Ritchlin CT. J Rheumatol. 15 May 2006; [Epub ahead of print]

Wednesday May 31, 2006
British Clinicians Challenge Restrictive TNF Inhibitor Guidelines
British guidelines for the use of TNF inhibitors are unduly restrictive and should be revised, practitioners charge... Deighton CM, et al. Rheumatology. 2006;45:649-652.

Wednesday May 31, 2006
Synta Initiates Phase II Clinical Trials in RA, CVID for Oral Inhibitor of IL-12 and IL-23
Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp announced the dosing of the first patients in its phase IIa clinical studies of apilimod mesylate in RA and CVID...

Wednesday May 31, 2006
NicOx Completes Enrollment Early for Phase III Trial of HCT 3012 in OA
NicOx SA announced early completion of accrual for the first phase III trial of HCT 3012, a novel, proprietary, nitric oxide-donating derivative of naproxen...

Thursday May 25, 2006
Meniscus Allografts Survive, Provide "Shock Absorber" in Severe Arthritis
Meniscus retread might help delay need for total knee replacement... Stone KR, et al. Arthroscopy. 2006;22:469-478.

Wednesday May 24, 2006
MacroGenics Raises $45M in Series C Financing to Support Phase II/III Trial of CD3 Monoclonal Diabetes Treatment 
MacroGenics, Inc, of Rockville, Maryland, announced that it has raised $45 million in a Series C financing round...

Wednesday May 24, 2006
Centocor's Remicade^R Approved by US FDA for Pediatric Crohn's Disease
Centocor Inc announced US FDA approval of Remicade® (infliximab) for reducing signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission in pediatric patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease...

Wednesday May 24, 2006
Bone-Sparing, Metal-on-Metal Hip Resurfacing System Benefits Young, Active Patients
A just-approved bone-sparing hip-resurfacing system will likely relieve pain and improve hip function among younger, active patients who have good bone quality, but caveats remain...

Monday May 22, 2006
MTX Plus Steroid Injection Into Joints Helps Control Early RA
Combining MTX with intraarticular steroids provides prompt control of early RA... Hetland ML, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1401-1409.

Friday May 19, 2006
NSAID Plus Proton Pump Inhibitor Emerges As Favored Alternative to Coxibs
A new meta-analysis suggests that combining a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a proton pump inhibitor is more effective than prescribing coxibs for avoiding dyspepsia in arthritis patients... Spiegel BMR, et al. Am J Med. 2006;119:27-36.

Wednesday May 17, 2006
Argos Licenses sCD83 Autoimmune Disorder Treatment Rights From Beckman Coulter

Argos Therapeutics, of Durham, NC, announced that Beckman Coulter, of Fullerton, California, has granted Argos an exclusive license for therapeutic use of the soluble protein CD83 (sCD83) for autoimmune disorders and transplant rejection...

Wednesday May 17, 2006
Avidia Raises $43.8 Million in Series C Financing to Advance Its Lead Avimerâ„¢ Drugs for Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases
Avidia, Inc, announced that it has raised $43.8 million in a Series C financing round...

Tuesday May 16, 2006
Low-Dose Prednisone Durably Slows Joint Damage in Early RA
Two years of low-dose prednisone slows radiographic progression in early RA and appears to change the course of the disease...  Jacobs JW, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 54:1422-1428.

Tuesday May 16, 2006
TNF Inhibitors Raise Cancer, Infection Risk, but Are Still Best Bet for Many RA Patients
A new meta-analysis shows that RA patients treated with infliximab or adalimumab (in addition to methotrexate) had 3.3 times the risk of developing cancer and 2.2 times the risk of developing a serious infection compared to their counterparts taking placebo plus methotrexate, and patients should be advised to get vaccinations, be alert for symptoms of infection, and have regular cancer screenings... Bongartz T, et al. JAMA. 2006;295:2275-2285.

Monday May 15, 2006
Infliximab Cools Spinal Inflammation in AS
Six months of infliximab significantly reduced MRI-proven sites of spinal inflammation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis... Braun J, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1646-1652.

Thursday May 11, 2006
"Fossil Virus" Footprints Found in RA

Human endogenous K10 retroviruses, the residue of infections from generations past, are significantly more active in rheumatoid arthritis patients than in osteoarthritis patients or normal controls and might contribute to the development of autoimmune disease... Ejtehadi HD, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:612-616.

Thursday May 11, 2006
Adding Zoledronic Acid Improves MTX Efficacy in Early RA
Zoledronic acid added to standard methotrexate treatment reduced the progression of MRI hand and wrist erosions by 61% in patients with early RA, apparently by inhibiting osteoclast activity... Jarrett AJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1410-1414.

Monday May 08, 2006
Additional Neuropathies Linked to TNF Inhibitors

Guillain-Barré syndrome, demyelinating and axonal neuropathies, and a central nervous system syndrome have been reported recently in patients treated with TNF inhibitors... Shin I-SJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1429-1434; Jarand J, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006;33:1018-1020.

Thursday May 04, 2006
CV Risk With Vioxx Rises in First 60 Days
Rofecoxib (Vioxx) increases the risk of cardiovascular events, typically within the first 60 days of use, while naproxen reduces such risk, and other coxibs and nonselective NSAIDs have no effect... Solomon DH, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1378-1389.

Thursday May 04, 2006
Adding Alefacept Increases MTX Response in Psoriatic Arthritis
Alefacept plus methotrexate significantly increased response rates in patients with psoriatic arthritis... Mease PJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1638-1645.

Wednesday May 03, 2006
FivePrime Inks Research and License Deal With Boehringer Ingelheim to Discover New Therapeutics to Treat RA and Other Diseases
FivePrime Therapeutics, Inc, of San Francisco, California, announced a 2-year collaborative research and license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim...

Monday May 01, 2006
Abbott's Humira^R (Adalimumab) Receives Positive Opinion From EMEA for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Abbott Laboratories, of Abbott Park, Illinois, announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), issued a positive opinion recommending approval of Humira® (adalimumab)...

Monday May 01, 2006
Rituximab Shown to Be Effective Without Steroids in DANCER Study
Two doses of rituximab were shown to be equally effective when added to methotrexate in patients with DMARD-resistant RA, and glucocorticoids did not increase the benefit... Emery P, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1390-1400.

Friday Apr 28, 2006
Labopharm's Phase III Study for Once-Daily Tramadol Achieves Primary Endpoint in Patients With OA of the Knee
Labopharm Inc, of Laval, Quebec, Canada, announced that the phase III clinical trial for its once-daily formulation of the analgesic tramadol in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee achieved statistical significance for the primary endpoint...

Friday Apr 28, 2006
Leukocytes Extend Damage, Kill "Bystander" Chondrocytes in Areas Around Injured Cartilage
Damage to cartilage also kills chondrocytes far from the site of injury, and this distant damage is mediated by inflammatory leukocytes that adhere to ICAM-1 expressed by stressed but otherwise viable chondrocytes. Preventing the early flood of leukocytes into the injured joint or blocking leukocyte attachment to ICAM-1 might reduce long-term damage... Green DM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1509-1517.

Thursday Apr 27, 2006
Rheumatologists Rely on Swollen Joint Counts When Deciding to Change RA Therapy
Rheumatologists rely on swollen joint count, morning stiffness, and CRP levels when deciding to change RA therapy... Soubrier M, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 Apr 15; [Epub ahead of print]

Wednesday Apr 26, 2006
Direvo Biotech Appears Poised to Advance Its Lead Preclinical Candidate, a Protease Specific for TNF-Alpha
Direvo Biotech Appears Poised to Advance Its Lead Preclinical Candidate, a Protease Specific for TNF-Alpha

Wednesday Apr 26, 2006
Neurochem's Eprodisate (Fibrillexâ„¢) Granted Priority Review by US FDA for the Treatment of Amyloid A Amyloidosis
Neurochem International Ltd, of Lausanne, Switzerland, announced that its new drug application for eprodisate (1,3-propanedisulfonate, Fibrillexâ„¢) for the treatment of Amyloid A amyloidosis has been granted priority review by the FDA...

Wednesday Apr 26, 2006
Infliximab Suspected of Worsening Rare MTX Lung Problem
Interstitial pneumonitis occurs in less than 1% of patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), but a recent case report suggests that adding infliximab might increase lung toxicity risk in certain vulnerable patients...  Villeneuve E, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 Apr 15; [Epub ahead of print]

Wednesday Apr 26, 2006
TNF-alpha Inhibitors Increase Postop Infection Risk in RA Patients
The first systematic investigation linking TNF inhibitor therapy in RA to postoperative infections suggests that clinicians should consider interrupting anti-TNF treatment prior to orthopaedic surgery procedures... Giles JT, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;55:333-337

Tuesday Apr 18, 2006
Reata Obtains Exclusive Worldwide Rights to Tricyclic-Bis-Enones, a New Class of Anti-Inflammatory Compounds
Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Dallas, Texas, has been granted exclusive worldwide rights to a novel class of anti-inflammatory compounds, tricyclic-bis-enones (TBEs)...

Tuesday Apr 18, 2006
Studies Suggest Link Between Smoking and Autoantibody Production
Two new studies have established an association between smoking and the development of autoantibodies and suggest that rheumatologists should include smoking cessation efforts as part of a comprehensive care plan for patients with autoimmune diseases... Freemer MM, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;65:581-584.

Monday Apr 17, 2006
Subcutaneous Infliximab Shows Promise in Treating RA
An experimental subcutaneous and intramuscular formulation of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor infliximab is well tolerated and associated with a favorable American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response…Westhovens R, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006;33:5. First release April 1, 2006.

Friday Apr 14, 2006
Testing for Second-Generation Anti-CCP Antibodies in Patients With Early RA is Useful for Predicting Radiographic and Functional Outcomes
Anti-CCP antibodies are a useful diagnostic tool, particularly among seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The presence of anti-CCP antibodies confers prognostic utility for radiographic and functional outcomes... Quinn MA, et al. Rheumatology. 2005;45:478-480.

Friday Apr 14, 2006
Low Risk of Serious Infections With Infliximab When Used at Approved Dose of 3 mg/kg
New research suggests that the risk of serious infections in RA patients given the approved infliximab dose of 3 mg/kg plus methotrexate (MTX) is similar to the risk among patients receiving MTX alone... Westhovens R, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1075-1086.

Tuesday Apr 11, 2006
Leflunomide is an Effective Treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) and Plaque Psoriasis
Once-daily oral leflunomide is a safe and effective treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and plaque psoriasis... Nash P, et al. Dermatology. 2006;212:238-249.

Thursday Apr 06, 2006
BMP-6 is a Potent Inducer of Chondrogenesis in Adipose-Derived Adult Stem Cells
Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) stimulates the differentiation of human adipose-derived adult stem (ADAS) cells into cartilage cells... Estes BT, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1222-1232.

Wednesday Apr 05, 2006
Multiple Factors, Including the Quality of the PCP-Rheumatologist Relationship, Contribute to Referral Delays for Patients With Early RA
Although recent guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) stress the need for timely diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), one half of patients with early RA are not referred to rheumatologists in a timely manner... Suter LG, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;55:300-305.

Tuesday Apr 04, 2006
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Raises $65 Million to Support Continued Clinical Development of Human Alpha-fetoprotein in RA and Psoriasis
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced that it has raised $65 million in a Series E private equity financing to advance the company's lead product, MM-093, a recombinant version of human alpha-fetoprotein (hAFP)...

Monday Apr 03, 2006
Galapagos NV and Arthrogen BV Enter Gene Therapy Target Discovery Alliance for RA
Galapagos NV, of Mechelen, Belgium, announced that its service division, BioFocus, has entered into a 3-year target discovery alliance...

Friday Mar 31, 2006
Targeted Liposomal Therapy Shows Promise in RA Animal Models
New research in rats suggests that arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) peptide liposomes that deliver dexamethasone phosphate directly to sites of inflammation show promise in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis... Koning GA, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;34:1198-1208.

Thursday Mar 30, 2006
Sodium Hyaluronate Effective in Chronic Shoulder Pain
Injections of sodium hyaluronate may be an effective and safe alternative to cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of chronic shoulder pain... Blaine TA, et al. Presented at: 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; March 22–26, 2006; Chicago, Ill. Abstract 426.

Wednesday Mar 29, 2006
Synarc Granted Patent for Imaging Device to Increase the Accuracy of Cartilage Measurements by MRI and CT
Synarc, Inc, of San Francisco, California, announced the issuance of US patent No. 6,992,280 for a novel image calibration device...

Monday Mar 27, 2006
EntreMed's 2ME2 Continues to Yield Positive Data in Preclinical Models of RA, Further Supporting the Potential for 2ME2 as a DMARD
EntreMed, Inc, of Rockville, Maryland, announced at the Inflammation and Immune Diseases Drug Discovery and Development Summit held this month in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that daily oral administration (100 mg/kg) of its lead compound, 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2)...

Monday Mar 27, 2006
Remicade^R Approved in Australia for the Treatment of Early RA and Psoriatic Arthritis
Schering-Plough Corporation, of Kenilworth, New Jersey, announced that the Therapeutic Goods Administration of the Department of Health and Ageing in Australia has revised the indication of Remicade® (infliximab)...

Monday Mar 20, 2006
Trial Halted of TeGenero's Study Drug TGN1412 (CD28-SuperMAB®) for Autoimmune Diseases and Leukemia; Six Hospitalized Following Serious Adverse Reactions 
TeGenero AG, of Würzburg, Germany, announced that six subjects participating in a clinical trial evaluating the safety of its study drug TGN1412...

Monday Mar 20, 2006
Vertex's Investigational p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitor Meets Primary Objectives in Phase II Trials for RA
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced that its oral drug candidate, the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor VX-702...

Monday Mar 20, 2006
Avidex's T-Cell Co-stimulation Modulator, RhuDex®, Successfully Completes Phase I Trials for RA

Avidex Limited, of Oxford, UK, announced that its lead investigational therapeutic candidate, RhuDex®...

Monday Mar 20, 2006
Use of Muscle-Derived Stem Cells May Revolutionize Treatment of OA
Due to their regenerative capabilities, muscle-derived stem cells may one day revolutionize the treatment of osteoarthritis, potentially staving off the need for joint replacement surgery in millions... Huard J, et al. Presented at: 52nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society; March 18–22, 2006; Chicago, Ill. Workshop 1.

Friday Mar 17, 2006
High BMI Increases Risk for Total Hip Arthroplasty
High body mass index is a risk factor for total hip arthroplasty... Flugsrud GB, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:802-807.

Wednesday Mar 15, 2006
New Single-Blind Trial Suggests Potential Role for Combined Antibiotics in RA
Combined antibiotic therapy using intravenous clindamycin and oral tetracycline may be useful in the management of active rheumatoid arthritis... Gompels LL, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006;33:224-227.

Tuesday Mar 14, 2006
Study Associates Meniscal Damage With Advanced Cartilage Loss in Early OA
Meniscal tears and malposition result in cartilage loss in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis... Hunter DJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:795-801.

Monday Mar 13, 2006
Steroids Not Beneficial for Genital Ulcers in Behçet's Syndrome
Low-dose depot corticosteroids do not have a beneficial effect on the genital ulcers of Behçet's syndrome, but they may help control erythema nodosum lesions—especially in females... Mat C, et al. Rheumatology. 2006;45:348-352.

Monday Mar 13, 2006
NPS Receives Approvable Letter From US FDA for Recombinant Human Parathyroid Hormone for Osteoporosis; FDA Expresses Concern Regarding Hypercalcemia
NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Salt Lake City, Utah, announced that it has received an "approvable letter" from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their new drug application for PREOS®...

Thursday Mar 09, 2006
RA Patients Have Increased Risk of Preclinical Atherosclerosis
Rheumatoid arthritis patients have an increased prevalence of preclinical atherosclerosis independent of traditional risk factors... Roman MJ, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:249-256.

Tuesday Mar 07, 2006
High, Prolonged Inflammatory Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Increases Lymphoma Risk
The severity of disease, not its treatments, is a risk factor for the development of malignant lymphomas in rheumatoid arthritis patients... Baecklund E, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:692-701.

Monday Mar 06, 2006
Trubion Eligible to Receive Over $800 Million in Milestone Payments From Wyeth in Strategic Alliance to Co-develop and Commercialize Trubion's SMIPâ„¢ Technology for Inflammatory Disease and Cancer
Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Seattle, Washington, and Wyeth of Madison, New Jersey, announced that they have formed a strategic alliance for the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel SMIPâ„¢ biologics...

Monday Mar 06, 2006
Phase III Data for Centocor's Remicade® Show Rapid and Marked Improvement in Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Centocor, Inc, of Horsham, Pennsylvania, announced the results from its phase III EXPRESS II study of Remicade® (infliximab)...

Friday Mar 03, 2006
Rituximab Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Refractory to TNF-Antagonists
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the anti-CD20+ B-cell-targeted monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan®) in combination with methotrexate for adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who experienced an adequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor antagonists...

Thursday Mar 02, 2006
Denosumab Shows Promise in Phase II Study of Bone Mineral Density
Twice yearly injections of denosumab (previously known as AMG 162) significantly increased bone mineral density in the total hip, lumbar spine, distal 1/3 radius, and total body of postmenopausal women compared with placebo... McClung MR, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:821-831.

Wednesday Mar 01, 2006
Biosystems International Collaborates in Two Biomarker Programs
BioSystems International, of Evry, France, announced a collaborative agreement with AstraZeneca...

Wednesday Mar 01, 2006
CombinatoRx Drops Its Phase IIa Oral Product Candidate (CRx-140) for Psoriasis; Drug Candidate CRx-102 Demonstrates Positive Phase II Study Results in Hand Osteoarthritis
CombinatoRx Inc, of Boston, Massachusetts, announced the discontinuance of its phase IIa drug candidate, CRx-140...

Wednesday Mar 01, 2006
Rigel Completes R788 Plus Methotrexate Drug Interaction Study in Patients With RA; Will Initiate Further Clinical Studies This Year
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of San Francisco, California, announced preliminary data from a phase I double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics of R788...

Thursday Feb 23, 2006
G2 Inflammation Pty Ltd Signs Deal With Novo Nordisk for Anti-C5a Receptor Antibody for the Treatment of RA and Other Inflammation-Mediated Diseases
G2 Inflammation Pty Ltd (G2I) announced a research, development, and licensing agreement with the Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk to advance G2's Neutrazumab...

Thursday Feb 23, 2006
EntreMed Receives New Patent for 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2, or Panzem®) Analogs for Inflammatory Diseases
EntreMed, Inc, of Rockville, Maryland, announced the issuance of US Patent No. 6,995,278, covering compositions and methods for treating mammalian diseases characterized by undesirable angiogenesis, by administering derivatives of 2-methoxyestradiol...

Thursday Feb 23, 2006
GAIT Results Show No Benefit of Glucosamine With Chondroitin for Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination did not reduce pain in the overall group of patients with knee osteoarthritis, although the supplements in combination may be effective in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe pain... Clegg DO, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:795-808.

Friday Feb 17, 2006
Chelsea Therapeutics Raises $21.5 Million in a Private Placement to Advance Its Antifolate Compound into Phase II trials for RA and Psoriasis
Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd, of Charlotte, NC, announced that it has completed a private placement of its common stock...

Friday Feb 17, 2006
Neurochem Seeks FDA Marketing Approval for Fibrillexâ„¢ for the Treatment of Amyloid A Amyloidosis
Neurochem International Limited announced the submission to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the final modules of its rolling NDA for eprodisate...

Thursday Feb 16, 2006
Infliximab Effective Treatment for Refractory Childhood Uveitis
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition is effective for treatment of childhood uveitis refractory to standard immunosuppressive therapy... Saurenmann RK, et al. Rheumatology Advance Access. February 3, 2006.doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ke1030.

Monday Feb 13, 2006
DOV Initiates Phase II Trial of Analgesic Bicifadine in Osteoarthritis
DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc, of Hackensack, NJ, announced the start of its phase II clinical trial of bicifadine, a novel analgesic...

Monday Feb 13, 2006
AnGes MG and Seikagaku End Joint Development Program for NFkB Decoy-Oligo-Based Intraarticular Injection for RA and OA
AnGes MG, Inc, headquartered in Osaka, Japan, and Seikagaku Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, announced that they have agreed to end their joint development program of NF-kappa B...

Friday Feb 10, 2006
Adding Doxycycline to Methotrexate Improves Efficacy in Early RA Patients
Initial therapy with methotrexate (MTX) plus doxycycline is more effective than MTX alone among patients with early seropositive rheumatoid arthritis... O'Dell JR, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:621-627.

Thursday Feb 09, 2006
Low-Dose Prednisone Increases Risk of Pneumonia in RA Patients
New research showing a dose-related relationship between prednisone use and pneumonia risk in rheumatoid arthritis calls into question the commonly held belief that low-dose prednisone is safe... Wolfe F, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:628-634.

Wednesday Feb 08, 2006
Etanercept in Combination with Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine, or Gold Is Safe and Effective Treatment for RA
Etanercept in combination with sulphasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, or intramuscular gold is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. O'Dell JR, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006;33:213-218.

Tuesday Feb 07, 2006
NSAIDs More Effective Than Acetaminophen in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe OA Pain
Acetaminophen reduces pain from hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), but nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are more effective in patients with moderate to severe OA pain, although individual risk factors need to be considered when choosing a therapy. Towheed TE, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(1):CD004257.

Monday Feb 06, 2006
Explicit Appropriateness Criteria Predicts Joint Replacement Success

Knee and hip arthroplasty patients who were considered appropriate candidates for joint replacement surgeries fared better than those who were considered inappropriate candidates, according to new research seeking to identify the best criteria for total knee and hip replacement... Quintana JM, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:220-226.

Monday Feb 06, 2006
NovImmune Files IND Application in Netherlands for Fully Human Antibody Against CD3 for Autoimmune Disease
Medarex, Inc, of Princeton, NJ, has announced the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the Netherlands by its licensing partner, NovImmune SA of Geneva, Switzerland, for NI-0401...

Friday Feb 03, 2006
Seal Oil May Lead to Subjective Improvements in Psoriatic Arthritis
Seal oil, rich in omega-3s, may improve psoriatic arthritis patients' global assessment of their disease, suggesting a trend toward a decrease in the number of tender joints, possibly due to seal oil's anti-inflammatory effects... Madland TM, et al. J Rheum. 2006;33:307-10.

Wednesday Feb 01, 2006
EMEA Recommends Approval of Remicade® for Ulcerative Colitis
Centocor, Inc, has announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Union's European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended the approval of Remicade^R for ulcerative colitis...

Monday Jan 30, 2006
Sales of Abbott's Humira® Exceed $1B in 2005
Abbott Laboratories reported that worldwide sales for Humira® (adalimumab) reached $1.4 billion...

Monday Jan 30, 2006
Can-Fite BioPharma Submits Clinical Protocol to FDA for Multinational Phase IIb Study of A₃ Adenosine Receptor Agonist for RA
Can-Fite BioPharma, of Petach Tikva, Israel, announced that it has submitted a draft protocol to the US Food and Drug Administration...

Monday Jan 30, 2006
PharmaFrontiers Obtains Exclusive License to T-Cell Vaccine for RA
PharmaFrontiers Corp, of The Woodlands, Texas, announced that it has acquired an exclusive worldwide license...

Wednesday Jan 25, 2006
Targeted Genetics Restructures to Advance Anti-TNF-Alpha Agent tgAAC94 for Inflammatory Arthritis
Targeted Genetics Corporation, of Seattle, Washington, announced the restructuring of its operations...

Wednesday Jan 25, 2006
Theramed Licenses Sigmasporin® (Cyclosporine) From EMS Sigma Pharma; Will Seek Approval to Market for RA and Psoriasis
Theramed Corporation, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, announced that it has entered into a licensing and distribution agreement with Nature's Plus...

Monday Jan 23, 2006
BMS Initiates Phase I Trials for Pharmacopeia's p38 Kinase Inhibitor Targeting RA
Pharmacopeia, of Princeton, NJ, announced that its marketing partner Bristol-Myers Squibb will commence phase I clinical trials...

Thursday Jan 19, 2006
Biomarkers Help Predict OA Patients at Greatest Risk of Progression
A single measurement of serum hyaluronic acid or short-term changes in urine C-telopeptide of type II collagen can identify osteoarthritis patients at the greatest risk of disease progression... Bruyere O, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. Published online January 5, 2006; doi:10.1136/ard.2005.045914.

Wednesday Jan 18, 2006
Human Genome Sciences to Advance LymphoStat-Bâ„¢ to Phase III in Lupus
Human Genome Sciences, Inc, announced plans to initiate in 2006 a phase III clinical trial of LymphoStat-Bâ„¢ (belimumab)...

Tuesday Jan 17, 2006
Timely ET May Help Stave Off Cartilage Degradation in Osteoarthritis
Estrogen therapy initiated immediately following ovariectomy staves off the cartilage loss known to accompany menopause... Oestergaard S, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December 8-11, 2005; Boston, Mass. Abstract P294.

Friday Jan 13, 2006
Increases in the Synthesis and Degradation of CTX-II Biomarkers May Predict OA Progression
Biomarkers of type II collagen synthesis and degradation may predict rapid progression among patients with knee osteoarthritis... Garnero P, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December  8-11, 2005; Boston, Mass. Abstract A6.

Wednesday Jan 11, 2006
NicOx Initiates Phase III for HCT 3012, Naproxen Derivative for Osteoarthritis
NicOx SA, a French biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of nitric-oxide-donating drugs to treat inflammation, pain, and cardio-metabolic disease...

Wednesday Jan 11, 2006
Repligen and University of Michigan File Infringement Complaint Against BMS Over Orencia®
Repligen Corporation of Waltham, Massachusetts, announced that Repligen and the University of Michigan (UM) have filed a joint complaint against Bristol-Myers Squibb Corporation (BMS) for infringement of a US patent...

Tuesday Jan 10, 2006
ARMADA Trial Supports Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Adalimumab and Background Methotrexate for RA

Adalimumab plus background methotrexate is a safe and well-tolerated combination that has demonstrated a sustained clinical response and remission in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for up to 4 years... Weinblatt ME, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. Published online Dec. 16, 2005; doi:10.1136/ard.2005.044404.

Tuesday Jan 10, 2006
Active Shape Modeling May Help Predict Osteoarthritis Fast Progressors
A new pilot study shows that active shape modeling (ASM) can quantify the changes that occur in the femoral head during the course of osteoarthritis (OA), findings that suggest the diagnostic technique may help identify OA patients who are at high risk for rapid progression and require surgical intervention... Gregory JS, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December 8-11, 2005: Boston, Massachusetts. Abstract P254.

Thursday Jan 05, 2006
New Study Suggests Raloxifene May Benefit Women with Knee Osteoarthritis
A recent study of women with knee osteoarthritis (OA) found that treatment with raloxifene resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the excretion of key markers of cartilage degradation, pointing to the potential curative effect of this agent and long-term improved outcomes for patients with knee OA... Daniluk S, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December 8–11, 2005; Boston, Mass. Abstract P67.

Wednesday Jan 04, 2006
Outcomes of RA Patients Presenting with Undifferentiated Arthritis Same as Those Presenting with RA

Since patients who present with undifferentiated arthritis (UA) that evolves into rheumatoid arthritis within 1 year tend to have the same disease outcome as patients who present with RA, a new study suggests that it may be beneficial to treat UA patients with DMARDs... van Aken J, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006:65:20-25.

Wednesday Jan 04, 2006
Bristol-Myers Squibb Receives US Approval for Orencia® (Abatacept) for RA
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Orencia® (abatacept) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Wednesday Jan 04, 2006
Oral Calcitonin May Delay Onset of Joint Disease and Relieve Pain of OA
Although calcitonin is an established antiresorptive agent, new research suggests that it also has a role in chondroprotection and may help relieve symptoms accompanying joint disease... Sondergaard BC, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December 8–11, 2005; Boston, Mass. Abstract P133.

Wednesday Jan 04, 2006
Eisai and Abbott Submit NDA in Japan for RA Drug Adalimumab
Eisai Co, Ltd, and Abbott Japan Co, Ltd, have announced the submission of a new drug application (NDA) to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan for the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug adalimumab...

Wednesday Jan 04, 2006
Osiris Raises $19 Million in Private Equity Funding for Adult Stem-Cell Trials
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc, of Baltimore, Maryland, announced that it has closed a $19 million private equity round of financing in support of ongoing clinical trial programs employing its adult mesenchymal stem-cell technology...

Wednesday Jan 04, 2006
Rigel Initiates Phase I Methotrexate Interaction Trial for R788 in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of South San Francisco, California, announced the start of a phase I double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate R788, an oral syk kinase inhibitor...

Wednesday Jan 04, 2006
Synta to Advance Clinical Development of IL-12/IL-23 Inhibitor for Crohn's Disease and RA
Synta Pharmaceuticals of Lexington, Massachusetts, announced that it will focus its clinical development efforts in 2006 on STA-5326, an oral interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 inhibitor...

Tuesday Jan 03, 2006
Several Potential Biomarkers May Help Predict the Development of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) has been found to be associated with changes in the serum proteins implicated in matrix degradation, cellular activation, and inflammation—changes that can occur years before radiographic detection of the disease... Ling SM, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December 8–11, 2005; Boston, Mass. Abstract P51.

Thursday Dec 22, 2005
Studies Evaluate Relationship Between Smoking, Obesity, and Exacerbation of Psoriasis
New research into the behavioral and environmental determinants of psoriasis has linked obesity and smoking with exacerbation of the disease, calling attention to the importance of weight reduction and smoking cessation in such patients…Fortes C, et al. Arch Dermatol. 2005;141:1580-1584.

Tuesday Dec 20, 2005
Borean Achieves Preclinical Validation of TNF-Alpha Antagonist Derived from C-Type Lectin Domain Library
Borean Pharma A/S of Aarhus, Denmark, announced that its proprietary C-Type Lectin Domain (CTLD)–derived trimeric tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) antagonist demonstrated a dose-dependent slowing of polyarthritis disease progression in transgenic mice expressing human TNF-a...

Tuesday Dec 20, 2005
KineMed Develops Assays for In Vivo Measurements of Cell and Matrix Molecule Turnover in OA

KineMed, Inc, of Emeryville, California, has announced that its proprietary stable isotope labeling and ultrasensitive mass spectrometry techniques have enabled researchers to measure cell proliferation...

Tuesday Dec 20, 2005
Research Outlines Novel Role of IL-1, IGF-1 in Cartilage Damage of Arthritis
A new study by Dutch investigators suggests that interleukin-1 (IL-1)-induced suppression of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 3 renders chondrocytes insensitive to insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a novel mechanism that appears to contribute to cartilage damage in arthritis...Van der Loo FAJ, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December 8–11, 2005; Boston, Mass.

Monday Dec 19, 2005
Oral Contraceptives Safe in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Taken together, two new prospective studies demonstrate that oral contraceptives (OCs) are safe in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and may represent a paradigm shift in the thinking and clinical practice of rheumatologists who historically have been reluctant to prescribe OCs and other hormones for these patients…Petri M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2450-2461; Sánchez-Guerrero J, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2539-2549.

Sunday Dec 18, 2005
Etanercept May Be Effective for the Depression and Fatigue of Psoriasis
A new phase III trial has found that the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor etanercept not only improves the clinical manifestations of psoriasis but also relieves the fatigue and depression associated with the disease. The findings point to the role higher concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α have in major depressive symptoms…. Tyring S, et al. Lancet [serial online]. December 15, 2005.

Wednesday Dec 14, 2005
Modified Type II Collagen Found to Act as Autoantigen in RA
New research reveals the ability of modified type II collagen to act as an autoantigen in the inflamed joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), possibly contributing to the cycle of chronicity associated with the disease…  Nissim A, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3685-3692.

Wednesday Dec 14, 2005
Critical Therapeutics' Fully Human Monoclonal Antibodies Against HMGB1 Demonstrate Efficacy in Preclinical Models of Inflammation; Triggers $1.25 Million Milestone Payment From MedImmune
Critical Therapeutics, Inc, of Lexington, Massachusetts, announced that its fully human monoclonal antibodies against high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) provide significant protection...

Wednesday Dec 14, 2005
Emisphere's Oral Drug Delivery Technology (Eligen®) Successful With Oral Salmon Calcitonin for Osteoarthritis
Emisphere Technologies, Inc, of Tarrytown, New York, has announced that an independent pilot study of daily salmon calcitonin therapy...

Wednesday Dec 14, 2005
New England Journal of Medicine Editors Call for Correction of VIGOR Trial
In response to the revelation that three additional myocardial infarctions were withheld from the original Vioxx® GI Outcomes Research (VIGOR) trial submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine, the editors of the journal have called into question the integrity of the data and requested that the authors submit a correction to account for the "inaccuracies and deletions" in the original published article...Curfman GD, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2813-2814.

Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Rheumatologists Need to Become More Familiar with New Pain Management Techniques
Rheumatologists need to increase their awareness of new pain management techniques and strategies, which not only focus on improved function and rehabilitation, but also on the underlying mechanisms at the molecular level... Fitzcharles MA, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3685-3692.

Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Domantis Raises $29 Million in Series B Financing to Advance Its Human Domain Antibody (dAb) Therapeutics
Domantis Ltd has announced the acquisition of $29 million in series B financing from existing investors as well as new investors Novo Nordisk and MC Life Science Ventures...

Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Research Points to the Importance of Diurnal Variations in Biomarkers for OA Assessment
A recent assessment of a cohort of patients with radiographic knee osteoarthritis uncovered substantial variations in the serum concentrations of key biomarkers of disease activity throughout the morning hours, changes that may affect clinical assessment of disease progression …. Kong SY, et al. Presented at: 10th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI); December 8–11, 2005; Boston, Mass. Abstract A8.

Monday Dec 05, 2005
Trials Demonstrate That Earlier Use of DMARDs and MTX Improve Juvenile Arthritis Outcomes 
Earlier use of second-line medications such as methotrexate or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in juvenile arthritis may account for the improved outcomes that rheumatologists have observed in recent years…  Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 126.

Monday Dec 05, 2005
Roche and BioCryst Collaborate on Phase I Compound for Autoimmune Diseases and Transplant Rejection
Roche Pharmaceuticals of Nutley, New Jersey, and BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Birmingham, Alabama, have announced...

Friday Dec 02, 2005
Study Highlights Risks, Better Outcomes for Pregnant Patients With Lupus/RA
Although pregnancy outcomes for women with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis have improved considerably as a result of careful monitoring throughout gestation, this group of patients still faces a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications, including poor intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia, and also has longer hospital stays than women in the general population... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 991.

Wednesday Nov 30, 2005
Pfizer to Pay Up to $803 Million for Incyte CCR2 Antagonists for Chronic Inflammation
Pfizer Inc and Incyte Corporation have entered into a global collaborative research and license agreement...

Tuesday Nov 29, 2005
Leading Rheumatologists Sound Off on Limitations of GAIT Study
The initial results of the $14 million National Institutes of Health Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial failed to show any real benefit for patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, leaving many rheumatologists in a quandary about what they should tell patients regarding the use of these readily available supplements... Clegg DO, et al. Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 622.

Tuesday Nov 29, 2005
Anti-IL-6 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody Tocilizumab Biologically Active in Lupus
Tocilizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor monoclonal antibody, may play a role in treating systemic lupus erythematosus…  Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 1884.

Tuesday Nov 22, 2005
Belimumab Data Show Only Modest Clinical Effect in RA
While belimumab is biologically active, safe, and somewhat effective for RA, the magnitude of its effect may not portend a bright future for the novel anti-BlyS agent... Presented at: 69th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 1920.

Tuesday Nov 22, 2005
RA Patients Less Likely to Take Prophylactic Aspirin Despite Increased MI Risk
Despite a growing body of evidence suggesting that the inflammation that is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases a patient's risk of myocardial infarction or stroke, RA patients are less likely to take prophylactic aspirin than RA-free controls. These findings call attention to the need for rheumatologists to address this discrepancy in care... Presented at: the 69th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif. Abstract 1904.

Monday Nov 21, 2005
Rigel's Phase I Study Demonstrates Safety and Bioavailability of New Oral DMARD
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of South San Francisco, California, presented phase I data for its syk kinase inhibitor R406...

Monday Nov 21, 2005
Genentech, Biogen IDEC's Rituxan® Benefits RA Patients Unresponsive to Methotrexate and Anti-TNF Therapies
Genentech, Inc, and Biogen IDEC, who filed in October for US Food and Drug Administration approval to market rituximab (Rituxan®)...

Monday Nov 21, 2005
New Analysis Supports La Jolla Pharmaceutical's Riquent® for Lupus Renal Disease; Company Reports on Experimental Anti-inflammatory Agent
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co of San Diego, California, announced that new analyses of existing clinical trial data provide support for Riquent® (abetimus sodium)...

Thursday Nov 17, 2005
Febuxostat Superior to Allopurinol for Hyperuricemia in Gouty Arthritis
The next-generation nonpurine selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat, the first new agent for gout in 40 years, proved to be significantly more potent than allopurinol for lowering serum uric acid to <6.0 mg/dL, a level associated with a dissolution of the urate crystals that cause gouty arthritis and a reduction in tophus size ... Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Thursday Nov 17, 2005
A 35-Year Look at SLE: Lower Mortality and Milder Disease at Presentation
Despite the absence of a new therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the past 30 years, mortality from SLE and disease activity at presentation are declining—findings that may be attributed in part to the greater use of immunosuppressive agents and lower steroid doses... Urowitz MB, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Thursday Nov 17, 2005
Three Novel and Distinct Agents Show Promise in RA
Three promising new rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs—including an oral small-molecule inhibitor that targets a novel adenosine receptor (AR) and a new anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) agent—may soon augment the rheumatologist's ever-expanding armamentarium... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Thursday Nov 17, 2005
Study Results Question "Window of Opportunity" Hypothesis for RA
Contradicting a widely held belief about treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), early use of disease-modifying therapy within 4 months of diagnosis had no apparent impact on the disease course... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif

Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
Long-Term Follow-Up Results Show Durable RA Responses with Abatacept
Abatacept, the selective co-stimulation modulator of T-cell activation, has demonstrated sustained clinical benefit during 18 months of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had inadequate responses to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) therapy... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
REFLEX Trial Demonstrates Efficacy of Rituximab in RA Resistant to Anti-TNF Therapy
Rituximab, an anti-CD20+ B-cell-targeted monoclonal antibody with an established therapeutic record in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, has shown statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) therapy... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
Osteoporosis Drug Risedronate May Have Disease-Modifying Effects in Osteoarthritis
High doses of risedronate (Actonel®) may protect against subchondral bone loss in knee osteoarthritis patients with progressive joint space narrowing... Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
Amgen's Denosumab Effective in Increasing Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Patients
Amgen has announced that twice-yearly subcutaneous injections of 60 mg denosumab increased bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine by 7.4% and of the total hip by 5.1% compared with 6.2% and 3.4%, respectively, for alendronate (Fosamax®) 70 mg/week over a 24-month period.

Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
Cerimon Pharmaceuticals Acquires Topical NSAID and Secures $70 Million in Series A Financing
Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of South San Francisco, California, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of therapeutics in the areas of autoimmune diseases, inflammation, and pain, announced that it has acquired the US rights to market and sell two topical formulations of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac.

Wednesday Nov 16, 2005
Chromos to Acquire Target Molecules Corporation and Its Anti-VLA-2 Product Candidate for Inflammatory Diseases; Complete a $6–10 Million Private Placement
Chromos Molecular Systems Inc of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, has announced that it will acquire Target Molecules Corporation of San Diego, California, a privately held biotechnology company with two preclinical stage antibody product candidates, including TMC-2003

Tuesday Nov 15, 2005
Glucosamine and Chondroitin May Have Role in Moderate-to-Severe Osteoarthritis
The encouraging results from the recently released GAIT trial are tempered by researchers who argue that the data were drawn only from an exploratory subgroup, calling into question the efficacy of glucosamine/chondroitin combination therapy…Clegg DO, et al. Presented at: 69^th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Tuesday Nov 15, 2005
Thalidomide Shows Promise in Refractory Systemic Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Thalidomide improves systemic clinical features, lab parameters, and joint symptoms in most patients with refractory systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (So-JIA), but caution is urged due to possible neurologic side effects... Badot V, et al. Presented at: 69^th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Sunday Nov 13, 2005
Targeted Anti-Cytokine Therapies Emerging as the Future of RA Treatment
Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockade is the new standard of care for patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other targeted therapies—including abatacept, B-cell-depleting agents, and anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal receptor antibodies—are emerging to fill the unmet needs of RA patients ... Maini R. Presented at: 69th Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; November 12–17, 2005; San Diego, Calif.

Monday Nov 07, 2005
Underpowered Randomized Clinical Trials Common in Rheumatology
A new literature review reports that underpowered randomized clinical trials (RCTs), which have been criticized as unethical and inadequate tests of an underlying hypothesis, accounted for approximately 21% of phase III RCTs of adult rheumatologic diseases published in English during 2001–2002 ... Keen HI, et al. J Rheum. 2005;32:2083-2088.

Friday Nov 04, 2005
BeSt Study Reinforces Importance of Aggressive Combination Therapy for Early RA
The latest results from the BeSt study show that initial combination therapy with either prednisone or infliximab resulted in earlier functional improvement and less radiographic damage after 1 year among early rheumatoid arthritis patients when compared with either sequential monotherapy or step-up combination therapy... Goekoop-Ruiterman YPM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3381–3390.

Wednesday Nov 02, 2005
Additional Encouraging Data from Targeted Genetics' Inflammatory Arthritis Program
The trial was designed to evaluate the safety of a single dose of tgAAC94...

Tuesday Nov 01, 2005
CAT and Abbott Resolve Royalty Dispute Regarding Humira®
Cambridge Antibody Technology Group PLC (CAT), a British biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, England, and Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories have reached an agreement...

Tuesday Nov 01, 2005
US FDA Accepts sBLA and Grants Priority Review Status for Rituxan® for RA
Biogen Idec, Inc, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Genentech, Inc, of South San Francisco, California, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority status to the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for  Rituxan®...

Monday Oct 31, 2005
Regular Physical Activity May Strengthen Knee Cartilage
A novel magnetic resonance imaging technique used in a new study suggests that human articular cartilage can adapt to physical load, and that modest exercise improves knee cartilage glycosaminoglycan content in patients at risk for developing osteoarthritis …  Roos EM, Dahlberg L. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3507-3514.

Monday Oct 31, 2005
Meta-Analysis Points to the Need to Customize Treatment for Subtypes of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
With the increased recognition that radiologic joint and cartilage damage occurs earlier in the course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis than originally thought, a recently released literature review underlines the importance of taking a customized approach to treatment of the disease. However, despite treatment advances, researchers argue that there is no evidence-based consensus on the optimal treatment regimen for several subtypes of JIA. Hashkes PJ, Laxer RM. JAMA. 2005;294:1671-1684.

Monday Oct 24, 2005
Studies Outline Weaknesses of DAS28 as Rheumatoid Arthritis Assessment Tool
Two new studies add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the disease activity score-28 (DAS28), a tool often used to determine the intensity of antirheumatic therapy, is not an appropriate gauge of remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Monday Oct 24, 2005
Chugai and Roche to Present Phase III Efficacy Data for Tocilizumab in RA at ACR Annual Meeting
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, of Tokyo, Japan, and its strategic partner, F. Hoffmann-La Roche of Switzerland, will jointly present phase III clinical trial results on MRA (tocilizumab)...

Monday Oct 24, 2005
Endogenous Opioids May Not Be Effective in Chronic Pain
Activating endogenous opioids may not be an effective way to treat chronic pain, according to an experimental study in male rats with chronic- and acute-induced arthritis. Li Z, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3210-3219.

Thursday Oct 20, 2005
Novel Hereditary Cartilage Debonding Syndrome Identified
Researchers have identified a new cartilage friability and osteochondral debonding syndrome that may provide insight into cartilage-bone interaction in other forms of joint degeneration ... Holderbaum D, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3300-3304.

Monday Oct 17, 2005
Autoimmune Disease May Contribute to Increase in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Particularly Among Women
Providing further insight into the dramatic rise in the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) over the last 20 years, a new study suggests that autoimmune diseases, as well as the potent immunosuppressive drugs commonly used for their treatment, may partly account for the increase in NHL, especially among women... Cuttner J, et al. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:1884-1887.

Monday Oct 17, 2005
Infliximab Found Highly Effective for Skin and Nail Psoriasis
Infliximab (Remicade®) monotherapy shows rapid onset of action and sustained efficacy as both induction and maintenance therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe skin and nail psoriasis, according to the results of a new multicenter Phase III study ... Reich K, et al. Lancet 2005;366:1367-1374.

Wednesday Oct 12, 2005
Centocor Obtains Approval in Europe for Remicade® for Psoriasis
Centocor, Inc, and its marketing partner, Schering-Plough Corporation, have announced that the European Commission has granted approval of Remicade^R (infliximab)...

Friday Oct 07, 2005
Novel Population of T Cells Found to Produce IL-17; In Vivo Analysis Reveals Role of Cytokine in Inflammatory Disease
New research examining the production and function of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 17 (IL-17) may pave the way for more effective ways to prevent and treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions . . . Nat Immunol [serial online]. October 2, 2005.

Thursday Oct 06, 2005
Abbott's HumiraR (Adalimumab) Approved in Europe for Psoriatic Arthritis and Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
Abbott Laboratories announced that it has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market HumiraR (adalimumab)...

Thursday Oct 06, 2005
Regeneron Discontinues IL-1 Trap Program in Adult RA
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Tarrytown, NY), a biopharmaceutical company with therapeutic candidates in clinical trials for the potential treatment of cancer, age-related eye diseases, and inflammatory diseases, announced...

Thursday Oct 06, 2005
Human Genome Sciences' LymphoStat-Bâ„¢ for Lupus Fails to Meet Primary Endpoints in Phase II Trial

Human Genome Sciences, Inc (Rockville, Md), announced that its investigational drug for lupus, LymphoStat-Bâ„¢, (belimumab) failed to meet the overall primary efficacy endpoints...

Wednesday Sep 28, 2005
New-Onset or Exacerbation of Psoriatic Skin Lesions in RA Patients on Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Antagonists
Nine rheumatic arthritis (RA) patients treated with 3 different tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonist formulations developed new-onset or an exacerbation of psoriatic lesions, despite the efficacy of TNF-α antagonists in treating such psoriatic lesions in the past. These first-ever reported cases will likely spur further analysis of the unexpected phenomenon...Kary S, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. Online First. September 8, 2005.

Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
Mesoblast Limited to Start Human Orthopaedic Trial Using Adult Stem Cell Technology
Mesoblast Limited of Melbourne, Australia, a biotechnology company that develops adult mesenchymal precursor stem cell technology for the regeneration and repair of bone and cartilage, has announced...

Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
Cellerant Therapeutics Closes Series B Financing with $25 Million
Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc, of San Carlos, California, a developer of treatments for autoimmune diseases, genetic blood disorders, and neutropenia, has announced...

Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
Researchers Report Promising Findings on Biomarkers for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and OA
New research has uncovered biomarkers that serve as both diagnostic "fingerprints" for the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis and predictors for osteoarthritis (OA) progression... Presented at: 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; September 23-27, 2005; Nashville, Tennessee.

Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
Low-Dose Safer Than High-Dose Steroids in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A new literature review suggests that the toxicity associated with glucocorticoids is largely a result of higher doses, a finding that may serve to restore greater use of long-term, low-dose glucorticoid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)... Da Silva JAP, et al. Ann Rheum Dis [serial online]. August 26, 2005.

Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
Johnson & Johnson's Remicade (infliximab) First Biologic Approved by US FDA for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
Centocor, Inc, a biotech unit of Johnson & Johnson, has announced that Remicade® (infliximab) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration...

Tuesday Sep 20, 2005
MedImmune to Acquire Privately Held Cellective Therapeutics
MedImmune Inc of Gaithersburg, Maryland, has announced its intent to acquire privately held Cellective Therapeutics, Inc, a 5-person early-stage biopharmaceutical company...

Monday Sep 19, 2005
A Leading Rheumatologist Reflects on How Cyclooxygenase Became a Household Word
Just as it appeared that the dust from the great COX-2 controversies had begun to settle, a jury in Texas awarded a plaintiff a judgment against Merck & Co for one quarter of a billion dollars - indeed, for a death that, arguably, was not Vioxx-related.

Monday Sep 19, 2005
Abuse-Resistant Oxycodone Clears Trial
Remoxy, a new oxycodone compound, may change the tide of abuse by making injection or snorting difficult due to its sticky, high-viscosity formulation...

Friday Sep 16, 2005
Generic Equivalents of Sanofi-Aventis' Arava® Now Available for Adult RA

Prasco Laboratories, a privately held pharmaceutical company located in Cincinnati, Ohio, announced...

Friday Sep 16, 2005
Neurochem Initiates Rolling NDA Submission for Fibrillexâ„¢ for AA Amyloidosis
Neurochem Inc announced that it has initiated submission of a rolling new drug application (NDA) to the US FDA seeking marketing approval for Fibrillexâ„¢...

Friday Sep 16, 2005
Abatacept Beneficial to Patients with RA Refractory to TNF-α Inhibitors
Abatacept has shown benefit to rheumatoid arthritis patients with inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind study...Genovese MC, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:1114-1123.

Tuesday Sep 13, 2005
ISTO Completes $10.8 Million Package to Finance Cartilage-Regeneration Therapies
ISTO Technologies, Inc, a St. Louis–based orthobiologics company, has completed a $10.8 million financing package led by Zimmer Holdings Inc...

Monday Sep 12, 2005
Genmab's HuMax-CD20 in Phase II for RA
Genmab A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark), a biotechnology company that creates and develops human antibodies for the treatment of life-threatening and debilitating diseases, has announced...

Friday Sep 09, 2005
Roche Files RA Indication for MabThera (Rituximab) in Europe
Roche Holding AG (Basel, Switzerland) announced the regulatory filing of MabTheraâ„¢ (rituximab) in Europe...

Friday Sep 09, 2005
FDA's Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Orencia® for RA
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (Princeton, NJ) has announced that the Arthritis Advisory Committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)...

Friday Sep 09, 2005
FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee Gives Preliminary Go-ahead to Abatacept
A Food and Drug Administration Arthritis Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of Orencia®  (abatacept) Tuesday, stating that the benefits of the costimulation blocker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outweighed the risks of serious infections like pneumonia and some cancers.

Thursday Sep 08, 2005
Cyclophosphamide/Stem Cell Transplantation Protocol Shows Promise for Refractory Autoimmune Diseases
Japanese researchers report promising phase I-II trial results showing that high-dose cyclophosphamide supported by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is feasible and may be effective in the treatment of severe and refractory autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis and SLE...Tsukamoto H, et al. Ann Rheum Dis online August 26, 2005

Tuesday Sep 06, 2005
Aromatase Inhibitors Linked to Arthralgias
With increasing use of aromatase inhibitors as both a breast cancer treatment and preventive agent, rheumatologists should be aware of associated joint pain and musculoskeletal aching... Felson DT, Cummings SR. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2594-2598.

Thursday Sep 01, 2005
RA May Be Becoming Milder With Time
New research suggests that rheumatoid arthritis may have become a milder disease in recent years, perhaps due to more aggressive treatment... Welsing PMJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2616-2624.

Monday Aug 29, 2005
Research Clarifies Mechanisms of Self-Tolerance by Natural Killer Cells
New murine research depicting how natural killer cells mature in a healthy immune system may yield clues as to what goes awry in autoimmune disorders. Kim S, et al. Nature. 2005;436:709-713

Monday Aug 29, 2005
Is There a Role for TNF Inhibitors in Refractory Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus?
New research demonstrating expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in refractory subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) skin lesions suggests a possible role for TNF blockade in the treatment of this disease. Zampieri S, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. August 11, 2005. [Epub ahead of print]

Monday Aug 29, 2005
Entremed's 2ME2 Generates More Positive Preclinical Data in Arthritis Models
EntreMed, Inc, of Rockville, Maryland, a clinical-stage company developing treatments for cancer and inflammatory diseases...

Tuesday Aug 23, 2005
MRI Data Show Etanercept Reduces Spinal Lesions in AS, but Questions Remain
Etanercept therapy leads to the regression of spinal lesions in active ankylosing spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis... Rudwaleit M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:1305-1310

Sunday Aug 21, 2005
Schering-Plough and Centocor to Codevelop Monoclonal Antibody Against TNF-α
Schering-Plough Corporation has announced that it has exercised its rights to develop and commercialize...

Friday Aug 19, 2005
Stem-Cell Transplantation Temporarily Improves Function and Health Status in RA Patients
New research helps delineate some of the benefits and potential limitations of high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in patients with severe refractory rheumatoid arthritis. Teng YK, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2272-2276.

Wednesday Aug 17, 2005
Elevated CRP May Predict Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in RA Patients
New research augments the growing body of evidence suggesting that the inflammation of RA causes premature atherosclerosis... Goodson NJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2293-2299.

Monday Aug 15, 2005
Abbott's Humira Approved in Europe for Psoriatic Arthritis and Early RA
Abbott Laboratories has received approval from the European Commission to market Humira^R...

Wednesday Aug 10, 2005
Abatacept Reduces Disease Activity and Improves Function in RA Patients Who Failed MTX
Results of a 12-month study show that the first in a class of agents designed to block a costimulatory pathway required for optimum activation of T cells may play an important role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly among patients unresponsive to methotrexate (MTX)... Kremer JM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2263-2271.

Tuesday Aug 09, 2005
Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in SLE Patients Are Complex and Underdiagnosed
Though neuropsychiatric (NP) syndromes, regardless of etiology, are common among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a new study suggests that lupus patients with a history of NP syndromes report more severe anxiety and depression as well as cognitive dysfunction, pointing to the need for earlier diagnosis of these nonspecific symptoms...J Rheumatol. 2005;32:1459-1466.

Tuesday Aug 09, 2005
FDA Approves Celebrex for Ankylosing Spondylitis, and an Added Boxed Warning
Pfizer's selective cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor Celebrex (celecoxib) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the relief of the clinical signs and symptoms associated with ankylosing spondylitis

Sunday Aug 07, 2005
Neurochem Initiates Submission of NDA With US FDA for Fibrillexâ„¢ in AA Amyloidosis
Neurochem has announced that it has initiated, under the Continuous Marketing Application Pilot 1 program...

Friday Aug 05, 2005
RA Patients With High BMI Have Lower Mortality
In a finding that runs contrary to the recognized relationship between increased weight and mortality, a new study has found that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with a high body mass index had a lower risk of death than their leaner counterparts... Escalante A, Haas RW, del Rincón I. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1624-1629.

Friday Aug 05, 2005
Targeted Genetics' Soluble TNF-α Receptor Technology for Inflammatory Arthritis Called Promising

Targeted Genetics Corporation, of Seattle, Washington, released clinical data from a small multicenter Phase I study showing that tgAAC94, a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector, is well tolerated and can be administered directly into the joints of patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Tuesday Aug 02, 2005
Etanercept Does Not Increase Risk of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in RA Patients
Unlike cyclosporine, etanercept does not appear to increase risk of skin cancer in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients... Lebwohl M, et al. Arch Dermatol. 2005;141:861-864.

Sunday Jul 31, 2005
UCB's Cimzia Demonstrates Positive Results in Phase III Trials for Crohn's Disease
USB Pharma, Inc, of Atlanta, Georgia, the biopharmaceutical subsidiary of international pharmaceutical...

Thursday Jul 28, 2005
Parkinson's Drug Shows Initial Promise in Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia patients taking pramipexole, a dopamine₃-receptor agonist, reported decreased pain and fatigue and improved function and global status compared with study participants taking placebo... Holman AJ, Myers RR. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2495-2505.

Wednesday Jul 27, 2005
Nastech Granted License to Develop RNAi Therapeutics Against TNF-α
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has granted Nastech Pharmaceutical Company, Inc, of Bothell, Washington, an exclusive license to its InterfeRx intellectual property portfolio in order to discover, develop, and commercialize RNAi (RNA interference) therapeutics directed against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a regulatory protein associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Thursday Jul 21, 2005
Swedish Study Clarifies Connection Between TB, RA, and Use of TNF-α Inhibitors
Irrespective of whether TNF-α inhibitors were administered, Swedish patients with RA were at an increased risk of TB, and TB risk is further heightened by use of biologic agents... Askling J, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:1986-1992

Tuesday Jul 19, 2005
Acupuncture Provides Short-Term Benefits in Knee OA
Acupuncture improves pain and functioning in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), but only in the short term... Witt C, et al. Lancet. 2005;366:136-143.

Monday Jul 18, 2005
GSK and HGS to Jointly Develop LymphoStat-B^TM  for RA and Lupus
Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (HGS) announced that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has exercised its option under a 1996 agreement to co-develop and commercialize LymphoStat-B (belimumab), a human monoclonal antibody (created through a collaboration with Cambridge Antibody Technology) that neutralizes the activity of B-lymphocyte stimulator, or BlyS^TM, a protein required for the development of B-lymphocytes into mature plasma B cells.

Tuesday Jul 12, 2005
Amgen, Massachusetts General Hospital in Enbrel Royalty Dispute
The Boston Globe reported that litigation might be filed to resolve a dispute between Amgen Inc and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston regarding royalty payments received by the hospital that Amgen, the manufacture of Enbrel, contends are in excess of the terms of the licensing agreement.

Friday Jul 08, 2005
Weight Loss Reduces Knee Joint Load
Losing just one pound results in a four-fold reduction in knee joint load in overweight and obese patients with OA of the knee... Messier SP, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2026-2032.

Wednesday Jul 06, 2005
Radiological Grade, High Global Assessment, and Past NSAID Use Strongly Predictive of Hip OA Joint Replacement
Patients with OA of the hip who presented with a radiological grade of III or IV, a high mean global assessment during the first 6 months, and previous treatment with NSAIDs have a stronger likelihood of undergoing total hip replacement surgery... Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:1028-1032

Thursday Jun 30, 2005
Debiopharm and Neovacs to Develop Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapeutic Vaccine
Debiopharm SA, a Swiss drug development company, and Neovacs SA, a French biotechnology company specializing in anticytokine immunogens, announced the execution of a license and equity agreement for the development of Neovacs' tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) kinoidR, a nontoxic immunogenic cytokine derivative that, in the presence of a T-helper carrier protein, triggers an active human polyclonal antibody immune response against TNF-α, while avoiding the generation of anti-idiotypic antibodies (antibody resistance).

Thursday Jun 30, 2005
Doxycycline Slows Osteoarthritis Disease Progression
New study results confirm preclinical data suggesting that doxycycline can slow joint space narrowing in the medial tibiofemoral compartment in knee osteoarthritis, but the common antibiotic did not affect pain...Brandt K, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2015-2025

Wednesday Jun 29, 2005
EMEA Recommends HumiraR as First Line for Moderate-to-Severe RA
Abbott Laboratories announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended approval of HumiraR (adalimumab) for first-line treatment of moderate-to-severe early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Wednesday Jun 29, 2005
The Immune Response Corporation Identifies Reduced FOXP3 Levels in MS Patients
An ongoing clinical trial conducted by The Immune Response Corporation (IRC) of Carlsbad, California, and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland has demonstrated that the investigational T-cell receptor (TCR) peptide vaccine NeuroVax^TM  significantly increases levels of FOXP3, a transcription factor necessary for regulatory T-cell (Treg cells) development.

Tuesday Jun 28, 2005
Botox Injections Improve Symptoms in Patients With Raynaud's Phenomenon
Injections of botulinum toxin type A may accelerate the rewarming process by inhibiting vasoconstriction in patients with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Monday Jun 27, 2005
Short-Term Use of High Dose Steroids Does Not Increase Fracture Risk
With at least a one-year moratorium on steroid use, short-term, >e;15 mg/day dose of oral glucocorticoids does not increase the risk for osteoporosis or fracture, according the results of a new study... Presented at: 2nd Joint Meeting of the ECTS and the IBMS; June 25-29, 2005; Geneva, Switzerland

Wednesday Jun 22, 2005
Early Ankylosing Spondylitis Cohort Underscores Link Between Sustained Disease Activity and Progression
German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort (GESPIC) shows that sustained high disease activity during the early stages of AS, despite treatment with NSAIDs, may be an important prognostic indicator of disease progression, and may suggest a possible earlier role for TNF-blockade... Presented at: European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Wednesday Jun 22, 2005
Phytomedics In-Licenses Anti-Inflammatory Sesquiterpene Lactones
Phytomedics Inc, a Dayton, New Jersey-based developer of novel botanical therapeutics, announced that it has acquired exclusive US licensing rights from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge for an invention pertaining to sesquiterpene (terpene compounds with 15 carbon atoms) lactones (a cyclic ester) and sesquiterpene lactone-containing plant extracts for the treatment of severe inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis, pemphigus vulgaris, sepsis, and postreperfusion injury.

Monday Jun 20, 2005
Low-Dose Steroids Prevent Bone Loss in RA
Despite its established potential to cause bone loss, the anti-inflammatory effects of prednisolone slow the loss of hand bone density in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis...Haugeberg G, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1293-1297.

Friday Jun 17, 2005
Vertex Inhibitor of p38 MAP Kinase Starts Phase II in RA
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc has initiated a 3-month Phase II clinical trial of VX-702, an orally administered small molecule inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Thursday Jun 16, 2005
Chelsea Launches Phase I Trial of Its Lead Antifolate Compound
Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial in the UK of its lead orally available, metabolically inert antifolate (CH-1504), which, in a nonpivotal, independent, 6-month pilot clinical study involving 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Peru suggested a lower toxicity and improved tolerability, and increased effectiveness versus methotrexate (MTX), even among patients who had previously failed to demonstrate improvement with MTX.

Thursday Jun 16, 2005
TEMPO Demonstrates Effects of TNF-α Blockade Over 3 Years
The benefits of continuous treatment with etanercept and methotrexate persist for at least 3 years, and, as more patients achieve remission, researchers' focus may turn to determining whether patients can safely discontinue TNF inhibitors...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Wednesday Jun 15, 2005
Apratastat, an Experimental Dual Acting Biologic Agent Shows Early Promise for RA
A novel, oral, small-molecule dual inhibitor of TNF-α-converting enzyme and matrix metalloproteinases has been shown in early trials to target two of the factors known to cause inflammation in RA... Fleischmann R, et al. Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Wednesday Jun 15, 2005
Alefacept in Combination With Methotrexate Evaluated for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis
A 6-month study of the memory T cell suppressor alefacept suggests that the agent will be an effective tool in the armamentarium against PsA... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Wednesday Jun 15, 2005
Etanercept Expands PsA Indication to Include Improvement of Physical Function
Amgen Inc and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the marketing approval of Enbrel® (etanercept) to include the improvement of physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Wednesday Jun 15, 2005
New Data on Fibrillex, Neurochem's Treatment Candidate for AA Amyloidosis
Neurochem, Inc, announced that Fibrillex^TM (1,3-propanedisulfonate), an oral investigational candidate for the treatment of amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis, demonstrated clinical effect but missed the prespecified p-value of 0.01 on the primary endpoint in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and parallel-design trial involving 183 patients (89 on Fibrillex, 94 on placebo).

Monday Jun 13, 2005
EULAR Report: Developments in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis Using TNF-α Inhibitors
Studies of low-dose regimens, the effects of discontinuation, and 52-week data from an initial study of adalimumab highlight the results presented at EULAR on the use of TNF-α inhibitors in the treatment of AS...Presented at Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Monday Jun 13, 2005
IL-6 Blocker Shows Promise in Systemic Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
More evidence emerging on the therapeutic potential of the experimental IL-6 blocker tocilizumab in the management of severe SJIA... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Monday Jun 13, 2005
Smokers Have More Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Than Nonsmokers, but Quitting May Help Reduce Disease Severity
New research presented at EULAR increases our understanding of how smoking impacts RA, and emphasizes the symptomatic benefits for those who stop...presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Saturday Jun 11, 2005
Methotrexate Together With Folic Acid Slashes Cardiovascular Risk in RA Patients
Study highlights cardioprotective role for MTX plus folic acid in RA and identifies disease activity as an important risk factor for heart disease...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Friday Jun 10, 2005
Experts Discuss the Interaction Between Environmental and Genetic Risk for RA
A noted epidemiologist and rheumatologist review the multifactorial interplay between the unmodifiable genetic component of the disease and environmental risk factors that account for approximately 50% of RA incidence, and suggest that certain lifestyle modifications may lower RA risk...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Friday Jun 10, 2005
High Doses of All NSAIDs Reportedly Increase Heart Attack Risk
The largest study to date on the association between cardiovascular events and the use of NSAIDs has found that the increase in risk is not limited to selective inhibitors of COX-2, and that, in fact, some nonselective NSAIDs confer the greatest risks...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Friday Jun 10, 2005
Treatment of RA Reduces Cardiovascular Mortality
Analysis of a large RA database reveals that treatment with MTX or anti-TNF-α drugs causes a significant decrease in mortality, specifically in death due to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Friday Jun 10, 2005
EULAR Issues Treatment Recommendations for Early Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Gout
European rheumatologists released three new sets of recommendations for the management of early arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and gout. Taken together the three sets of recommendations do not offer many specifics, but do chart at least an initial course of action for patients...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Friday Jun 10, 2005
EULAR Report: TNF-α Inhibition and Mycobacterium TB Infection
Several epidemiological studies highlight the importance of prescreening for latent TB before initiation of TNF-α inhibitors... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Thursday Jun 09, 2005
Trials Examine Efficacy and Safety of B-cell Depletion in RA
Favorable results from the DANCER trial and other studies of rituximab suggest that this anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody may be a promising therapy, particularly for refractory patients... Emery P, et al. Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR;  June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Thursday Jun 09, 2005
Study Helps Clarify Link Between RA and CVD
Il-6, rheumatoid factor, and chronic kidney disease predict endothelial dysfunction among RA patients and need to be suppressed to stave off atherosclerosis...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Thursday Jun 09, 2005
Abatacept Inhibits Structural Damage in RA Patients with Inadequate Response to Methotrexate
New studies help define and clarify potential niche for costimulation blockade in autoimmunity...Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Thursday Jun 09, 2005
AVANIR/Novartis Agreement: Develop MIF Therapies for Inflammatory Diseases
AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, a drug discovery and development company, announced the signing of an agreement with Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp to develop orally active small molecule therapeutics targeting macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a proinflammatory cytokine that is thought to play a critical role in the pathology of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Tuesday Jun 07, 2005
Radiographic Assessment Effective in Predicting Progression of Hip Osteoarthritis
A Kellgren and Lawrence score of 2 or higher at baseline is a strong predictor for progression of hip OA, particularly in patients with hip pain...Reijman M, et al. BMJ. 2005;330:1183-1188.

Monday Jun 06, 2005
Trials Outline Effective Strategies for the Use of Existing Therapies in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Four new studies highlight ways to use non-steroidals, biologics, and methotrexate in ankylosing spondylitis. Marzo-Ortega H, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 May 26; [Epub ahead of print].

Friday Jun 03, 2005
Recombinant Version of Alpha-Fetoprotein May Hold Promise in RA and Other Autoimmune Diseases
As a Phase II trial begins, experts are cautiously optimistic that the experimental immunomodulating agent may be safer than existing RA treatments, and that the work may help explain why RA tends to remit during pregnancy...National Jewish Medical and Research Center [press release]; June 2, 2005.

Thursday Jun 02, 2005
Anti-TNF Blockade Modulates Androgen Production in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A new study links TNF to a deficiency in the production of the androgen DHEA in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis patients, and demonstrates that TNF inhibitors can reverse this effect...Weidler C, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:1721-1729.

Wednesday Jun 01, 2005
More Evidence for the 'FitzGerald Hypothesis' on the Relationship of Coxibs and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Vascular remodeling may interact with a predisposition to hypertension and atherosclerosis, contributing to the gradual increase in cardiovascular risk during extended periods of treatment with COX-2 inhibitors...Rudic RD, et al. Circ Res. Published online May 19, 2005.

Thursday May 26, 2005
African-American and Hispanic Osteoarthritis Patients Less Likely Than Caucasians to Undergo Knee Replacement Surgery
These minority populations are significantly less likely to consider knee arthroplasty compared with their Caucasian counterparts regardless of health status, a finding that researchers attribute to differences in the perception of benefit, trust in the physician, and personal experience with the procedure...Suarez-Almazor ME, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1117-1124.

Friday May 20, 2005
Study Provides Clues to the Mechanism of Remission of Inflammatory Diseases During Pregnancy
Analysis of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis may help provide a better understanding as to why certain rheumatic diseases improve during pregnancy...Ostensen M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:839-844

Tuesday May 17, 2005
Corgentech's Inhibitor of NF-kB Reduces Inflammatory Response in Preclinical Model
Corgentech Inc. reported that NF-KappaB Decoy (NF-kB Decoy), a DNA-based drug candidate, has shown activity in preclinical models against atopic dermatitis, as measured by the reduced recruitment and proliferation of proinflammatory cells, and by the induction of apoptosis in cells related to inflammation.

Tuesday May 17, 2005
Study Suggests That Standardized Criteria Are Needed to Gauge Remission in RA
Rates of remission vary by criteria, but experts agree that new standards should include both clinical and radiographic measures. Mäkinen H, et al. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:796-800.

Tuesday May 17, 2005
Medarex's Fully Human Monoclonal Antibody Targeting IP-10 (CXCL10) Starts Phase I Trial
Medarex Inc, announced the initiation of a multicenter, single-dose, dose-escalation, 32-patient Phase I clinical trial for MDX-1100, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the chemokine IP-10 (CXCL10), for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Tuesday May 17, 2005
Avidex Inhibitor of T Cell Costimulation Enters Phase I Clinical Trials
Avidex Ltd announced the start of Phase I clinical testing for RhuDexR, a small molecule, orally available, immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory agent, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Tuesday May 17, 2005
Infliximab Approved for Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis
Infliximab joins etanercept as an anti-TNF-α treatment option for patients with active psoriatic arthritis...FDA approves Remicade® for ninth indication: psoriatic arthritis [press release]. Malvern, Pa: Centocor, Inc; May 17, 2005.

Thursday May 12, 2005
Arakis RA Drug Completes Phase IIa Trial
Arakis Ltd announced that in a multicenter Phase IIa, placebo-controlled study, its candidate rheumatoid arthritis compound AD 452, a novel small-molecule cytokine modulator, demonstrated acceptable pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability in RA patients already receiving methotrexate.

Thursday May 12, 2005
More Evidence for Cardiovascular Risk Among Selective and Nive Nonsteroidals
Several weeks after the US Food and Drug Administration called for sweeping changes to the labels of prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs reflecting a potential cardiovascular risk, a Danish study confirms that they increase the chances of hospitalization for MI...Johnsen SP, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:978-984.

Wednesday May 11, 2005
New Genetic Variant May Increase Risk of Inflammatory Disease
A recently identified polymorphism results in differential HLA molecule expression and is associated with susceptibility to common diseases with inflammatory components...Swanberg M, et al. Nat Genet. 2005;37:486-494.

Monday May 09, 2005
Synarc Introduces A New Assay for a Biochemical Marker of Cartilage Degradation
New data on Syncart (HELIX-II; Synarc Inc), a competitive polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed to measure the urinary degradation fragment of type II collagen, were published in a recent edition of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

Friday May 06, 2005
Use of DMARDs and Referral to Rheumatologists Too Low in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
A pre-biologic therapy era population study in British Columbia suggests that too few physicians are adhering to treatment guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis for early and aggressive intervention, delaying the "window of opportunity" when effective therapy can induce radiographic regression... Lacaille D, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;53:241-248.

Thursday May 05, 2005
Etanercept May Not Be Optimal for Treatment of Systemic Onset JRA
New results showing that more than 50% of SOJRA patients have a poor or limited response to etanercept suggest that alternative therapies are needed...Kimura Y, et al. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:935-942.

Thursday May 05, 2005
Presence of Parallel Neural Pain Pathways May Assist in the Management of Fibromyalgia Patients
New research among patients with fibromyalgia shows evidence of parallel, independent neural processing pathways for sensory and affective pain, a finding that may lead to better diagnosis, selection of therapeutic agents, and efficacy for the chronic pain and concomitant depression that accompany the condition... Giesecke T, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:1577-1584.

Tuesday Apr 26, 2005
American College of Rheumatology Responds to the Recent FDA Action on NSAIDs
Citing a lack of evidence implicating OTC and prescription NSAIDs in CV risk, the American College of Rheumatology criticized aspects of the recent FDA decision... American College of Rheumatology letter to Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, acting commissioner of the FDA. April 21, 2005.

Friday Apr 22, 2005
High-Dose Methotrexate Particularly Effective for Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
A head-to-head trial comparing leflunomide and methotrexate monotherapy showed that both drugs demonstrated significant improvement in ACR Pediatric 30 responses through a 48-week course of therapy...Silverman E, et al. New Engl J Med. 2005;352:1655-1666.

Thursday Apr 21, 2005
Novel PAR-2 Antagonists Developed for Inflammatory Disease and Cancer
Preclinical studies conducted by EntreMed, Inc, indicate that its proteinase activated receptor (PAR-2) antagonists not only inhibit tumor growth and the formation of new blood vessels in animal models, but also block inflammation in preclinical rheumatoid arthritis and in models of acute inflammation. The new data were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Anaheim, California.

Thursday Apr 21, 2005
New Evidence Suggests That TNF Inhibitors Do Not Confer Risk of Lymphoma or Solid Tumors in RA Patients
Two studies examining large Swedish cohorts attempt to clarify the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis, tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockade, and the risk of malignancy...Askling J, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. April, 20 2005; [Epub ahead of print]

Monday Apr 18, 2005
Herbal Supplements Carry Risk of Adverse Interaction with Arthritis Medications
High rates of polypharmacy and comorbidity may put rheumatology patients at particularly high risk for dangerous drug interactions involving unconventional medication...Holden W, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:790.

Friday Apr 15, 2005
Small Interfering RNA Suppresses Inflammation in Mouse Model of Arthritis
Local administratipon of TNF-α-directed siRNA inhibits collagen-induced arthritis in mice, suggesting a potential treatment strategy for RA...Schiffelers, RM. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:1314-1318.

Thursday Apr 14, 2005
Phase III RituxanR Study Demonstrates Clinical Improvement in Treatment-resistant RA
Following positive preliminary findings from a Phase IIb study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of the approved cancer drug Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, Genentech Inc, Biogen Idec and Roche Pharmaceuticals announced that a recent Phase III study has met its primary endpoint based on clinical improvement (ACR 20 responses) at week 24.

Wednesday Apr 13, 2005
Human Genome Sciences' LymphoStat-B® Meets Primary Efficacy and Safety Endpoints in Phase II trial for RA
Human Genome Sciences, Inc. reported results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase II clinical trial indicating that LymphoStat-B (belimumab) administered intravenously is safe, well tolerated, and results in a statistically significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Tuesday Apr 12, 2005
Limited Dose Increase Effective in Patients Initially Unresponsive to Infliximab
RA patients who show an insufficient clinical response to 3 mg/kg infliximab every 8 weeks can benefit from a limited dose increase of 100 mg from week 30 onward... Durez P, et al. Rheumatology. 2005;44:465-468.

Monday Apr 11, 2005
2-Methoxyestradiol Inhibits Inflammatory Cell Migration, Tissue, and Joint Damage in Animal Model of RA
The antiarthritic activity of 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) in preclinical studies was the focus of two separate presentations at the XXXV International Congress of Physiological Sciences held during the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in San Diego, California.

Friday Apr 08, 2005
Thalidomide May Play a Role in Treatment of Refractory Radiculopathic Pain
Banned from use in the 1960s due to its teratogenic effects, thalidomide is being reexamined as a treatment for inflammatory and other types of disorders... Presented at the 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Massachusetts

Thursday Apr 07, 2005
FDA Orders Valdecoxib (Bextra) Withdrawn, Citing No Added Advantage
The agency also mandated black box warnings for celecoxib and stricter label warnings on traditional NSAIDs, including over-the-counter products... US Food and Drug Administration teleconference April 7, 2005.

Wednesday Apr 06, 2005
Study Links TNF Inhibitors to Dermatologic Problems in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Although a causative relationship has yet to be established, the new data put physicians on alert for a "less than major complication" Flendrie M, et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2005;7:666-676.

Monday Apr 04, 2005
Analgesic Drug Pipeline, Though Relatively Dry, Poised for Revitalization
Despite a relative paucity in the current analgesic pipeline, a greater understanding of complex pain processes, pharmacogenetics, and new diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets, including assays and biomarkers, may open the doorway to more effective therapies, as well as better use of existing treatments...Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Mass.

Friday Apr 01, 2005
Better Communication Skills May Help RA Patients Cope with Pain
Two new studies looking at stress and psychosocial functioning in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have found that individuals who have difficulty expressing their thoughts and emotions have greater disease activity and pain than their more communicative counterparts...Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Massachusetts.

Friday Apr 01, 2005
Injectable Capsaicin Formulation Safe and Effective in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients
In the search for alternatives to coxibs, traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and opioid analgesics, preliminary data suggest that injectable capsaicin is safe and well tolerated in patients with osteoarthritic knee pain, without the side effects of systemic treatments...Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Mass.

Thursday Mar 31, 2005
Lidocaine Patch May Be as Effective as Oral Medications for Improving Osteoarthritis Pain
As physicians seek alternatives to coxibs, traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids, a new study suggests that lidocaine patches may play a role in treating localized knee pain due to OA...Galer B, et al. Presented at: 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society; March 30-April 2, 2005; Boston, Massachusetts.

Wednesday Mar 30, 2005
Cognitive-Behavioral Program Helps OA Patients Feel and Function Better
A self-management program that teaches goal setting, self-relaxation, and other behavioral measures improves pain and self-reported function in Dutch cohort... Heuts PH, et al. J Rheumatol 2005;32:543-549.

Tuesday Mar 29, 2005
STAT6(B) Regulates Production of TNF-α and Other Inflammatory Cytokines
In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,1 researchers from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine report the discovery and characterization of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6(B) [STAT6(B)] a novel transcription factor that may play a role in the management of cytokine-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Friday Mar 25, 2005
Genetic Variation Helps Predict Response to Etanercept in Rheumatoid Arthritis
As the FDA takes action to speed the clinical application of pharmacogenetics, the possibility of personalized medicine for RA patients got a boost from a new study showing that a polymorphism in TNF-α affects the response to etanercept therapy...Kang CP, et al. Rheumatology. 2005;44:547-552.

Wednesday Mar 23, 2005
IL-1 Blocker Anakinra Safe and Effective in Small Study of Severe Lupus Arthritis Patients
Accumulating evidence suggests that anakinra may find a niche in IL-1-driven diseases such as juvenile arthritis, adult onset Still's disease, and severe lupus arthritis...Ostendorf B, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:630-633.

Tuesday Mar 22, 2005
IL-6 Blocker "Promising" in Systemic Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Small study demonstrating efficacy and safety of MRA in juvenile arthritis, combined with promising results in treatment of other conditions, suggests that IL-6 inhibitors may play an important role in controlling inflammatory disease...Yokota S, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:818-825.

Monday Mar 21, 2005
KaloBios Raises $20 million to Advance Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc, of Palo Alto, California, a privately held company devoted to the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies and proteins, announced that it has raised $20 million in its Series B round of financing.

Sunday Mar 20, 2005
Canada's NRC Funds ChondroGene to Support Development of OA Test
ChondroGene Limited of Toronto, Canada, has received financial support from the Canadian National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program to further develop a blood-based test to stage osteoarthritis (OA) and to detect early, asymptomatic disease.

Tuesday Mar 15, 2005
Trials of Gout Drug Febuxostat Demonstrate Promising Efficacy
Results of Phase II and Phase III studies of the novel xanthine oxidase inhibitor suggest that it may play an important role in treating hyperuricemic patients with renal insufficiency and allopurinol hypersensitivity...Becker MA, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:916-923.

Monday Mar 14, 2005
Alantos Pharmaceuticals Acquires Funding to Develop MMP-13 Inhibitors
Preclinical studies of novel matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) inhibitors, which target the predominant collagenase involved in degradation of articular cartilage, demonstrate their promise as therapeutic agents for patients with osteoarthritis (OA), according to researchers at Alantos Pharmaceuticals, of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Monday Mar 14, 2005
Hyaluronate Injection Improves Function of Arthritic Ankle
Investigator-initiated pilot study indicates that sodium hyaluronate provides sustained relief of pain and improved function in patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the ankle...72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; February 23-27, 2005; Washington, DC.

Monday Mar 14, 2005
Novel Estrogenic Agonist May Suppress Inflammation
Preclinical and Phase I data suggest that an estrogen receptor beta-agonist, ERB-041, may have potent anti-inflammatory properties without classic estrogenic effects...American College of Rheumatology 2005 Innovative Therapies in Autoimmune Disease Meeting, Washington, DC, March 4-6, 2005.

Sunday Mar 13, 2005
Markers of Systemic Inflammation May Be Independent Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
A new study indicates that ESR may be predictive of CV mortality and suggests that tighter control of inflammation may help improve long-term outcomes for RA patients...Maradit-Kremers H, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:722-732.

Saturday Mar 12, 2005
Genzyme Acquires a Second-Generation Cartilage Repair Product; Buys Back Rights to SynviscR
Genzyme Corp has acquired Verigen AG, a private German company that has developed a proprietary cell-therapy product for cartilage repair.

Friday Mar 11, 2005
Rapid Onset of Joint Failure in Mice Lacking Lubricin, the Main Lubricant in Synovial Fluid
A new study of mice lacking the PRG4 gene suggests that it is required to protect the cartilage surface and prevent synovial hyperplasia...Rhee DK, J Clin Invest. 2005; [Epub ahead of print].

Wednesday Mar 09, 2005
First CINOD Fails to Show Gastrointestinal Protection in Osteoarthritis Trial
Despite promising preclinical data, an experimental COX-inhibiting nitric oxide donator does not cause fewer ulcers than naproxen in osteoarthritis patients; Astra Zeneca shuts down the project...Lohmander LS. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64:449-456

Wednesday Mar 09, 2005
Development of Antibodies Targeting Interferon-± and the Type I Interferon Receptor 1 Underway
The type I interferon system has been implicated in the development and maintenance of abnormal autoimmune responses.

Tuesday Mar 08, 2005
Phase II Study of Recombinant Human Alpha-Fetoprotein Initiated in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Alpha-fetoprotein, which is produced by the fetus during pregnancy, is associated with remission of autoimmune diseases during the third trimester, when it reaches peak levels in maternal serum.

Monday Mar 07, 2005
Latest Trial Results for Biologics in Psoriatic Arthritis
Highlighted results from the American Academy of Dermatology meeting confirm the efficacy of anti-TNF therapy in treating psoriatic arthritis...63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, February18-22, 2005; New Orleans, La.

Sunday Mar 06, 2005
Oral Formulation of a Small Molecule Kinase Inhibitor in Phase I Study for Rheumatoid Arthritis
A Phase I clinical trial has been initiated to study the safety and pharmacokinetics of a novel candidate drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), R406, an orally administered small molecule syk kinase inhibitor that blocks both IgG and IgE activation of mast cells, macrophages, and B cells.

Thursday Mar 03, 2005
Internet Can Be a Less Than Reliable Source of Information on Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Surgery
Online direct-to-consumer marketing and surgeon self-promotion can create false expectations for patients researching hip arthroplasty...The 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; February 23-27, 2005; Washington, DC.

Thursday Mar 03, 2005
Internet Can Be a Less Than Reliable Source of Information on Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Surgery
Online direct-to-consumer marketing and surgeon self-promotion can create false expectations for patients researching hip arthroplasty...The 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; February 23-27, 2005; Washington, DC.

Friday Feb 25, 2005
Outpatient Arthroplasty May Become the Standard of Care
With minimally invasive surgical techniques, an increasing number of total joint replacement procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis...72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; February 23, 2005

Friday Feb 25, 2005
Obese and Overweight Patients Tend to Gain Weight After Lower Extremity Arthroplasty
A new study counters the assumption that obese and overweight patients with hip or knee arthritis will lose weight after arthroplasty...72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, February 23-27, 2005.

Friday Feb 25, 2005
New Findings Show Improved Outcomes With Arthroscopic Shoulder Stabilization
A new military study shows that arthroscopic shoulder stabilization performed through puncture wounds yields similar results with fewer complications and less operative time than traditional open surgery ... 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; February 23, 2005.

Wednesday Feb 23, 2005
New Findings Confirm Predictive Power of Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies in Patients With Very Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Study offers further evidence that the presence of antibodies to CCP in addition to RF in patients with early inflammatory arthropathy can forecast the development of RA... Raza K, et al. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:231-238.

Saturday Feb 19, 2005
FDA Panel Splits 17 to 15 in Favor of Putting Rofecoxib Back on the Market
An FDA advisory panel recommends a strong black box warning for cardiovascular risk, dose restrictions, and strict guidelines to indications for use of Vioxx...US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 18, 2005.

Friday Feb 18, 2005
FDA Advisory Panel Votes to Keep Pfizer COX-2 Inhibitors Celecoxib and Valdecoxib on the Market
An FDA advisory panel concluded today that while safety concerns clearly exist with celecoxib and valdecoxib, their overall benefits outweigh potential CV risks... US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 18, 2005.

Friday Feb 18, 2005
Public Outcry Over Embattled Pain Relievers at FDA Advisory Panel Hearing
Some called for the withdrawal of all coxibs, while others pleaded for a return of the withdrawn rofecoxib (Vioxx) during public testimony at the FDA advisory meeting... US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 17, 2005.

Friday Feb 18, 2005
Despite Proven GI Benefits, Problems Predicted for Newest Coxibs Seeking FDA Approval
Two coxibs currently in the approval pipeline are likely to face substantial hurdles as an FDA advisory panel determines the fate of the COX-2 inhibitor class...US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 17, 2005.

Friday Feb 18, 2005
European Medicines Agency Calls Cardiovascular Risk a Class Effect of Coxibs
EMEA calls for stricter labeling and restricted use for COX-2 inhibitors... will the FDA follow suit?  EMEA press release. London, UK; February 17, 2005.

Thursday Feb 17, 2005
Anti-CCP Antibodies Detected in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients
New research suggests that the specificity of this marker may lead to more precise diagnostic criteria for this broad spectrum disease...Vander Cruyssen B, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005. [Epub ahead of print]

Thursday Feb 17, 2005
Pfizer, Merck & Co Grapple Over Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Coxibs
With the fate of a drug class on the line, all eyes are on an FDA advisory panel as they assess the data on coxibs and make recommendations that could lead to a labeling change or their withdrawal from the market... FDA joint meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 16, 2005.

Thursday Feb 17, 2005
FDA Whistleblower Cites Unpublished Data on Dose-Dependent Cardiovascular Risk of Coxibs
The FDA advisory panel on COX-2 inhibitors heard testimony today from a leading voice in the movement to restrict their use... US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 16, 2005.

Tuesday Feb 15, 2005
Meta-Analysis Shows Coxibs Raise Blood Pressure Relative to Traditional NSAIDs
Analysis of pooled data provides additional evidence of cardiovascular risk associated with coxibs and suggests differing effects among members of the class...Aw T-J, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1-7.

Thursday Feb 10, 2005
Anti-TNF Therapy Does Not Increase Overall Cancer Risk in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, but Is Linked to Higher Number of Lymphomas
Swedish researchers note that the types of lymphomas, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease, were in line with those recently reported in RA patients...Geborek P, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005

Tuesday Feb 08, 2005
Rofecoxib but not other NSAIDs Increases Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Low-Risk Elderly Population
New research is consistent with the VIGOR and APPROVe trials, which led to drug's abrupt withdrawal, and suggests that cardiovascular side effects may not be a class effect & Levesque LE, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2005; 152:1-10.

Friday Feb 04, 2005
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Face Higher Risk for Congestive Heart Failure and Unrecognized Coronary Heart Disease
Two population-based studies suggest that the heightened risk of heart disease may be attributed to the systemic inflammation that characterizes RA rather than traditional risk factors&Nicola PJ. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:412-420; Maradit-Kremers H. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:402-411.

Thursday Feb 03, 2005
Crohn's Disease Patients With Attenuated Response to Infliximab May Respond to Adalimumab
Mimicking the paradigm seen with TNF-blockade in rheumatoid arthritis, preliminary data suggest that switching infliximab nonresponders to adalimumab may improve the clinical response and reduce disease activity...Papadakis KA. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100:75-79.

Monday Jan 31, 2005
New Research Highlights Generation Gap, Ethnic Divide Among Chronic Pain Patients
While African Americans experience more pain and related negative effects than do caucasians, young adults across both ethnic groups do not cope as well with chronic pain as do their older counterparts...Baker TA, Green CR. Pain Med. 2005;6:29-38.

Monday Jan 31, 2005
Genetic Discovery May Lead to New Lupus Treatments
Two newly discovered genes may help lupus researchers crack the interferon code, leading to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of SLE and to novel drug targets... Sigurdsson S, et al. Am J Hum Genet. 2005;18:76-79.

Tuesday Jan 25, 2005
Three New Studies Further Elucidate Risks and Benefits of Coxibs
Newly published study findings from CRESCENT show that rofecoxib significantly increases 24-hour blood pressure after 6 weeks of therapy, while celecoxib and naproxen do not; two other published studies address COX-2 risks and benefits... Sowers JR, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:161-168.

Friday Jan 21, 2005
The Promise and Peril of the Next Generation of COX-2 Inhibitors
CIAOMed continues its series on the impact of the withdrawal of rofecoxib (VioxxR) from the worldwide market. The first installment (CIAOMed.org; November 9, 2004) discussed possible mechanisms of the cardiovascular (CV) risk observed with rofecoxib, and whether they apply to other selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. The second (CIAOMed.org; December 10, 2004) examined the impact of recent disclosures about COX-2s and CV risk on patient management. This third and final installment focuses on the clues to CV risk profiles of the second-generation COX-2 inhibitors and the role these newer drugs will play if they are approved for marketing in the US& Brune K, Hinz B. Scand J Rheumatol. 2004;33:1-6.

Friday Jan 21, 2005
Interpreting TARGET: Who Faces CV Risk?
Rheumatologists interviewed by CIAOMed express caution about the use of lumiracoxib and disagree with some of the interpretations of TARGET findings...Farkouh ME, et al.  Lancet. 2004;364:675-684.

Thursday Jan 20, 2005
New Bone Imaging Technology May Give DEXA a Run for Its Money on Earth -- and in Space
New ultrasound bone imaging device, which measures bone strength and rate of bone loss as well as bone density, could become the standard for osteoporosis assessment... National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Houston, Texas.

Wednesday Jan 19, 2005
Next Generation of Antibody-Based Designer Biologics in Development
Trubion announces first Phase I study of small modular immunopharmaceutical SMIP technology in rheumatoid arthritis…

Tuesday Jan 18, 2005
One-Third of US Adults Including Growing Numbers of Arthritis Patients Turn to Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In response to continued use of these products, rheumatologists are urged to become more aware of nonprescription medications and drug-herb interactions...Tindle HA. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005;11:42-49.

Wednesday Dec 22, 2004
UVA-1 Light Useful as Adjuvant Therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
A new study by Dutch researchers has found that UVA-1 cold light therapy significantly decreases validated disease activity indices in patients with moderately active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without causing significant adverse effects... Polderman MCA, et al. Rheumatology. 2004;43:1402-1404.

Wednesday Dec 22, 2004
National Institutes of Health Halts Alzheimer's Prevention Trial Involving Aleve and Celebrex
Federal officials noted that patients taking the OTC formulation of naproxen had a 50% greater rate of cardiovascular (CV) events compared with placebo; those in the COX-2 inhibitor arm of the trial saw no increased CV risk...National Institutes of Health, December 20, 2004.

Tuesday Dec 21, 2004
SLE Patients Treated with TNF-ÃŽalpha Blockade Show Improvement
Study indicates that TNF-alpha blocker may reduce SLE disease activity in patients' joints and kidneys, without serious adverse events; need for larger clinical trials cited... Aringer M, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50: 3161-3169.

Tuesday Dec 21, 2004
Cancer-Prevention Trial Reveals Elevated Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Celebrex
National Cancer Institute study results, which showed a heightened cardiovascular risk versus placebo among patients taking the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib at up to 4 times higher than recommended doses, runs counter to recent evidence that the agent may have cardioprotective properties in some arthritis patients... Kimmel SE, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(3).

Thursday Dec 16, 2004
Pfizer's COX-2 Agent to Include Updated Risk Warnings on Label
The FDA announces important new information on risks of CV adverse events in some postsurgical cardiac patients and potentially life-threatening skin reactions associated with use of valdecoxib...US Food and Drug Administration. December 9, 2004.

Wednesday Dec 15, 2004
Novel Class of Bone Resorption Inhibitors Is Identified
Newly identified biphenyl derivatives, which are shown to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro and prevent ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo, may have potential therapeutic advantages over bisphosphonates in the treatment of diseases such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and cancer-associated bone disorders....van Hof RJ, et al. J Bone Miner Res. 2004;19:1651-1660.

Monday Dec 13, 2004
Synovial Tissue Interleukin-18 Expression Correlates With Inflammatory Arthritis Disease Activity
New study underscores the important proinflammatory role of IL-18 in the pathophysiology of inflammatory arthritis, and suggests that treatment that inhibits or neutralizes endogenous IL-18 may become an effective tool in controlling synovial tissue inflammation&Rooney T, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004;63:1393-1398.

Monday Dec 13, 2004
New Studies Confirm Efficacy and Tolerability of Once Daily Lumiracoxib for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
New clinical trials data on the efficacy and tolerability of lumiracoxib (PrexigeR) provide evidence that the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor taken 100 mg daily offers reduced pain intensity in the target knee compared to placebo while improving the functional status of patients' osteoarthritis of the knee...Lehmann R, et al. Presented at: The 9th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International; December 2-5 2004; Chicago, Illinois.

Monday Dec 13, 2004
Clinical Decisions With COX-2s: Balancing GI Protection and Cardiovascular Risk
CIAOMed continues its series about the impact of the withdrawal of rofecoxib (VioxxR) from the worldwide market. The first installment (CIAOMed.org; November 9, 2004) discussed possible mechanisms of the cardiovascular (CV) risk observed with rofecoxib, and whether they apply to other cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. This second installment examines the impact of recent disclosures on changes in the selection of appropriate candidates for COX-2 inhibitors, on the reemergence of traditional antiinflammatory agents such as nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for patients at risk for gastrointestinal complications, and on therapeutic decisions for those who require aspirin to maintain cardiovascular protection& Simon LS. Advanced Studies in Medicine. 2004;4:522-523.

Friday Dec 10, 2004
Occupational Risk Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus May Include Mercury Exposure and Pesticide Mixing
Epidemiologic study indicates that occupational mercury exposure and some dental and agricultural work are significantly associated with a greater risk for developing SLE and that previously suspected occupations may not present this risk...Cooper GS, et al. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1928-1933.

Friday Dec 03, 2004
Leflunomide Associated With Lower Rate of Adverse Events Than Other DMARDs, Large Cohort Study Finds
Study of more than 40,000 patients showed that the AE profile of leflunomide, alone or in combination with methotrexate, was comparable to that of other DMARDs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis...Cannon GW. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1906-1911.

Wednesday Nov 24, 2004
Gender Bias May Exist in the Recognition and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Men
Although men have higher vertebral fracture rates than women, they may not get screening and treatment for osteoporosis as often or as early... Sawka AM, et al. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1993-1995.

Tuesday Nov 23, 2004
Large National Survey Shows Importance of Anxiety Disorders in the Psychopathology of Pain Syndromes
Recent findings add to an emerging body of data suggesting that anxiety may have a stronger association with arthritis and other pain conditions than depression& McWilliams LA, et al. Pain. 2004;111:77-83.

Thursday Nov 18, 2004
Mexican Ancestry May Be Associated With Earlier Onset of Damage in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Hispanic patients with SLE who are living in Texas may be predisposed to a shorter time to initial damage, which is known to predispose to the accrual of further damage&Toloza SMA, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;3177-3186.

Tuesday Nov 16, 2004
Long-Term, High-Intensity Aerobic Exercise May Benefit the Joints of the Feet
Contrary to the perception that an intensive, weight-bearing exercise regimen increases the rate of radiological joint damage of the hands and feet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a Dutch study suggests that a long-term, high-intensity program that results in improvement in aerobic fitness and involves 'impact-generating' activities may in fact have a protective effect on the joints of the feet. DeJong Z, et al. Ann Rheum Dis . 2004;63:1399-1405.

Tuesday Nov 09, 2004
COX-2s, Pain Relief, and Cardiovascular Risk: Where Do We Go From Here?
In the first of a 3-part series, CIAOMed will examine possible underlying mechanisms that may be responsible for elevated cardiovascular risk in select COX-2 inhibitors and whether such explanations extend to all coxibs. Subsequent installments will examine how to manage patients in light of the new reports and the future of this frequently used drug class... Simon LS, Strand V. Cleve Clin J Med. 2004;71:849-856.

Thursday Nov 04, 2004
Next generation COX-2 Inhibitor Arcoxia Receives FDA Approvable Letter
Final approval of etoricoxib must await FDA review of additional safety and efficacy data... Baraf HSB, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; San Antonio, Tex.

Wednesday Nov 03, 2004
Merck Withdraws NDA for COX-2 Inhibitor Arcoxia

Just days after receiving an FDA "approvable letter", the company has withdrawn the new drug application for etoricoxib until additional safety and efficacy data are available...

Wednesday Oct 27, 2004
Anti-TNF Drugs Appear to Show Benefits in Most Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients and May Also Improve Psoriatic Arthritis
Recent study findings indicate that ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis may respond well to infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab... Rudwaleit M, Sieper J… Z Rheumatol. 2004;63:193-202.

Wednesday Oct 27, 2004
Anti-TNF Drugs Appear to Show Benefits in Most Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients – and May Also Improve Psoriatic Arthritis
Recent study findings indicate that ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis may respond well to infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab... Rudwaleit M, Sieper J… Z Rheumatol. 2004;63:193-202.

Monday Oct 25, 2004
Leflunomide-Methotrexate Combination Equivalent in Safety to Leflunomide Alone for RA
A five-year study involving over 5000 RA patients showed no increase in mortality or long-term serious adverse events... Ta KT, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Monday Oct 25, 2004
Leflunomide-Methotrexate Combination Equivalent in Safety to Leflunomide Alone for RA

A five-year study involving over 5000 RA patients showed no increase in mortality or long-term serious adverse events... Ta KT, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Friday Oct 22, 2004
Research Shows Benefits of TNF-α Blockers in Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis
Studies involving etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab consistently show long-term benefits with regard to disease activity, function, and spinal mobility... Davis JC, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Friday Oct 22, 2004
Research Shows Benefits of TNF-α Blockers in Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis

Studies involving etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab consistently show long-term benefits with regard to disease activity, function, and spinal mobility... Davis JC, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Friday Oct 22, 2004
Infliximab Therapy Markedly Improves Skin Symptoms in Psoriatic Arthritis
Independent of the arthritis response, clinicians should continue to use the anti-tumor necrosis factor agent infliximab for patients with active psoriatic arthritis because the drug markedly reduces skin symptoms... Mease P, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Thursday Oct 21, 2004
Leflunomide-Methotrexate Combination Equivalent in Safety to Leflunomide Alone for RA
A five-year study involving over 5000 RA patients showed no increase in mortality or long-term serious adverse events... Ta KT, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Thursday Oct 21, 2004
Researchers Outline Genetic and Environmental Triggers for Virulent Ankylosing Spondylitis

Genetic predisposition and a physically demanding job affect extent of disability that will accompany the inflammatory disease... Ward MM, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Thursday Oct 21, 2004
State-of-the-Art Lectures Reflect Pioneering Research in Rheumatology in the Past Year

The speakers highlighted new research in basic science, including genetic mechanisms at work in RA, and in clinical studies that further understanding of the efficacy of various therapeutic strategies…Barton A, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004.;50:1117-1121; Edwards JC, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:2572-2581.

Thursday Oct 21, 2004
Treating Early and in Combination May Lessen Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis
An emerging body of clinical evidence supports the concept that combination therapy with an antitumor necrosis factor-α agent and methotrexate brings symptomatic relief and reduces radiographic progression... Breedveld FC, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Wednesday Oct 20, 2004
Awards Given to Key Investigators for Clinical Research; Community and Professional Service
The second awards session reflected the diversity of contributions rheumatologists make in scientific research and in their communities.

Wednesday Oct 20, 2004
Adalimumab Markedly Reduces Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
Striking benefits are shown for psoriatic arthritis patients' skin and joint symptoms with adalimumab vs placebo... Mease PJ, et al. Presented at Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 19, 2004; San Antonio, Texas

Wednesday Oct 20, 2004
New Phase III Trial With Abatacept Gives Hope to Methotrexate Nonresponders

A phase III clinical trial reported that nearly half of rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving monthly injections of the T-cell inactivator abatacept achieved at least a 50% reduction in symptoms... Kremer J, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 19, 2004; San Antonio, Texas.

Tuesday Oct 19, 2004
Glucosamine Supplements Show Demonstrable Benefit for Osteoarthritis Symptoms

A newly released report from the World Health Organization documents the disease-modifying clinical endpoints that support the efficacy of this well-known over-the-counter medication... Bruyere O et al. Poster presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 19, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Tuesday Oct 19, 2004
Studies of TNF-Alpha Blockers in Rheumatoid Arthritis Focus on Understanding Safety Issues

A new postmarketing surveillance analysis shows that infliximab is safe at approved doses, and patients have no greater risk of infection than those taking methotrexate ... Yocum DE et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 19, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Tuesday Oct 19, 2004
Emerging Data Underscore Long-Term Efficacy of Adalimumab in Combination With Methotrexate for RA

Several clinical trials presented at the ACR annual meeting demonstrated that the combination of adalimumab and MTX achieved clinical remission and inhibition of structural damage for up to 4 years... Schiff MH et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 19, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Tuesday Oct 19, 2004
Varus-Valgus Laxity Varies by Gender, Ethnicity in Its Association with Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)
The findings from this large epidemiologic study suggest that the causes in knee OA may differ between women and men, as well as between whites and African Americans... Sharma L, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 18, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Monday Oct 18, 2004
MRI Has Modest Predictive Value in Detecting Response to TNF Therapy in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Treatment responders had a higher activity index on MRI than did nonresponders, but the difference was less marked than investigators expected... Rudwaleit M, Listing J, Brandt J, Braun J October 18, 2004, Sieper J. Prediction of a major clinical response (BASDAI 50) to TNF-alpha blockers in ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004; 63:665-670.

Monday Oct 18, 2004
You Were Right! The Weather Does Affect Joint Pain
A large-scale study correlates arthritis pain with weather data finding the effect of cooler weather a weak but significant factor in pain... McAlindon TE, Formica MK, Fletcher J, Schmid S. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 18, 2004; San Antonio, Tex. Abstract 596.

Monday Oct 18, 2004
Key Contributors to Rheumatology Acknowledged in ACR 2004 Awards
The opening plenary session acknowledged the recipients of the Presidential Gold Medal, the Distinguished Investigator Award, and the Distinguished Rheumatologist Award.

Monday Oct 18, 2004
Identical Twins Have 5 Times the Risk of Joint Replacement Surgery If Their Twin Has the Procedure

Swedish researchers discover a genetic link for osteoarthritis risk, especially among identical twins, adding to previous findings that did not distinguish between heredity and shared family environment... Lohmander S, Johnell O, Pedersen NL. Poster presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 18, 2004; San Antonio, Texas . . Abstract 228.

Monday Oct 18, 2004
Study: Acupuncture Relieves Knee Pain
Acupuncture may provide significantly more relief of osteoarthritis knee pain than conventional interventions, according to new study…

Sunday Oct 17, 2004
COX-2 Inhibitor Bextra Found to Increase Cardiac Risk in Patients Undergoing Bypass Surgery
Two weeks after Merck & Co. pulled its cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor rofecoxib (Vioxx) from the market because its use was associated with heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, Pfizer Inc. told doctors that its COX-2 inhibitor valdecoxib (Bextra) increases the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Tuesday Oct 12, 2004
Combination Step-Down Regimen Enhances Disease Control Over Sulfasalazine Monotherapy for RA, Without Adding Cost

A combination regimen consisting of prednisolone, methotrexate, and sulfasalazine may produce more robust clinical responses at equal or lower cost than sulfasalazine alone for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis... Korthals-de Bos I et al. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1709–1716.

Monday Oct 04, 2004
FDA Approves Etanercept as Pre-Filled Syringe, Infliximab as First-Line Therapy for Moderate to Severe RA

The FDA has approved etanercept (Enbrel) as a pre-filled syringe formulation for once weekly use, and granted approval for a supplemental labeling change stating that the medication can induce a major clinical response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In another regulatory decision, the FDA has approved the use of infliximab (Remicade) in combination with methotrexate as a first-line treatment for patients with RA.

Friday Oct 01, 2004
Rofecoxib (Vioxx) Withdrawn, APPROVe Trial Discontinued Early
A study to determine the drug's value in preventing colorectal polyp recurrence showed that patients on rofecoxib had a higher risk of cardiovascular events than did those on placebo.

Thursday Sep 23, 2004
Partner Participation in RA Self-Management May Need Rethinking
(van Lankveld W. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1738-1745.)

Tuesday Sep 21, 2004
Potential Osteoarthritis Biomarker Found
Elevated levels of CTX-II, type II collagen-derived fragments, may be an indicator of the presence and progression of OA.

Wednesday Sep 15, 2004
Advances in anti-TNF Therapy for RA

Two studies give insight regarding the time after RA onset to introduce anti-TNF therapy, and which doses to use to get an optimal response. (Baumgartner SW, et al. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1532-1537; Stern R, Wolfe F. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:1538-1545.)

Tuesday Sep 14, 2004
Focus Groups Show RA Patients' Views of Anti-TNF Therapy

RA patients on anti-TNF therapy have differing expectations of therapy, depending on their background and self-education. They also may experience benefits beyond those typically measured in clinical trials. (Marshall NJ, et al. Rheumatology. 2004;43:1034-1038.)

Thursday Sep 02, 2004
B Lymphocyte Depletion Seen with Rituximab in Seropositive RA Patients
A treatment often used in B-cell non-Hodkin's lymphoma may have promise for methotrexate-refractory RA patients.

Tuesday Aug 31, 2004
TARGET Study Shows Fewer GI Complications, No Increased Cardiovascular Risks, With Lumiracoxib Compared to NSAIDs

A study comparing lumaricoxib to two NSAIDs shows that it may be linked to a reduced risk of gastrointestinal complications, and no additional cardiovascular risk. (Schnitzer TJ, et al. TARGET Study Group. Lancet. 2004;364:665–674.)

Monday Aug 30, 2004
SLE Researchers Encouraged to Use Biomarkers, Surrogate Markers as Study Endpoints; New Research Shows B-Cell Depletion to Have Role in SLE Therapy
(Schiffenbauer J, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:2415-2422; Looney RJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:2580-2589.)

Monday Aug 30, 2004
Studies Point to Genetic Susceptibility for Knee Osteoarthritis
(Neame RL, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004;63:1022-1027; Valdes AM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:2497-2507.)

Monday Aug 30, 2004
Incidence of Gout Increasing; New Therapies Have Promise to Make Disease More Manageable
(Bieber JD, Terkeltaub RA, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:2400-2414.)

Friday Aug 27, 2004
Elevated CRP Before Onset of RA

Patients with RA have elevated CRP levels several years before the onset of symptoms, as seen in blood samples drawn when they were blood donors. (Nielen MM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:2423-2427.)

Wednesday Aug 25, 2004
Eighth International Scleroderma Meeting Reflects Increased Interest

Research on etiology and potential therapeutic targets were highlights of the Eighth International Workshop on Scleroderma Research.

Wednesday Aug 18, 2004
Study Shows that Etanercept (EnbrelR) Reduces Joint Symptoms, Improves Psoriatic Lesions, and Inhibits Radiographic Progression in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis

In a study described in the July issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism, Mease and colleagues found that etanercept significantly improved the clinical symptoms and skin lesions of psoriasis in patients with psoriatic arthritis. (Mease PJ, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:2264-2272.)

Wednesday Jul 28, 2004
Very Early Diagnosis and Treatment May be the Crucial Step in Achieving Optimal Control of RA.

A recent study indicates that there is a window of opportunity for highly successful treatment of RA in the first year.

Wednesday Jul 14, 2004
Low Dose Corticosteroid Treatment Confers No Additional Benefit When Taken with DMARDs in Early RA
Randomized, controlled trial showed that low dose prednisolone conferred no radiological or clinical benefit on patients maintained on a DMARD over two years...

Wednesday Jul 14, 2004
Mycobacterial Vaccine Less Effective than Immunotherapies in Treatment of PSA

Monday Jun 28, 2004
The Best Trial: Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Patients with Early RA

Results from the BeSt trial show favorable results for aggressive strategies using combination DMARDs and regimens with TNF antagonists. (De Vries-Bouwstra JW, et al. BeSt Trial Group.)

Friday Jun 11, 2004
Pain Management Remains a Key Component to Treatment of Inflammatory Conditions
Understanding the mechanisms involved in chronic pain and treating it as effectively as possible is a crucial component to the management of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disease...

Thursday Jun 10, 2004
Pregnancy and Autoimmune Disease: Balance Risk of Disease versus Treatment to Fetus
Physicians who treat patients with autoimmune disease need to consider the risks of the disease to pregnancy and fertility as well as the treatment.

Thursday Jun 10, 2004
Preliminary TARGET Data Show Less GI Risk with Lumiracoxib Compared to Conventional NSAIDs
Early findings of a study show that patients who receive lumiracoxib for arthritis symptoms are 50 percent less likely to experience adverse GI effects than those who are treated with conventional NSAIDs.

Wednesday Jun 09, 2004
Genome-wide Approaches Shed New Light on the Genetic Control of Arthritis
This session, on the opening day of EULAR 2004, revealed insight into the genetic control of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.