|
Found 237 result(s) FROM 1963 pages containing the term 'infection'.
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...
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...
Thursday Mar 18, 2010
Metal Staples Carry Higher Risk of Infection than Traditional Stitches
Using metal staples to close wounds after joint surgery carries a higher risk of infection than traditional nylon sutures...
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...
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...
Wednesday Nov 04, 2009
Joan T. Merrill, MD, Answers Your Top Five Questions About Benlysta and Lupus
Benlysta™ (belimumab, formerly LymphoStat-B®) is poised to be the first new lupus drug approved in 50 years...
Thursday Oct 29, 2009
Benlysta May Be the First New Lupus Drug in 50 Years
Benlysta™ (belimumab, formerly LymphoStat-B®) is poised to be the first new lupus drug in 50 years...
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...
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...
Wednesday Sep 30, 2009
FDA Finally OKs Stelara for Psoriasis
The FDA has approved Centocor's Stelara (ustekinumab) for moderate to severe psoriasis...
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?...
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...
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...
Tuesday Jun 23, 2009
MMF Effective, Safe for Proliferative as well as Membranous Lupus Nephritis
Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) may be as effective as, yet safer than, cyclophosphamide for the proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis...
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...
Tuesday Jun 16, 2009
Golimumab for Psoriatic Arthritis Still Effective at 2 Years
2-Year GO-REVEAL data show durable PsA response to golimumab...
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 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...
Tuesday Apr 28, 2009
RA Patients Could Be Hard Hit By Swine Flu
Rheumatologists must be vigilant in looking for signs and symptoms of the swine flu in their immunocompromised patients—including those on TNF-inhibitors...
Thursday Apr 09, 2009
Genentech Pulls Psoriasis Drug Raptiva Due to PML
Roche's Genentech unit will pull the psoriasis drug Raptiva® (efalizumab) due to PML risk...
Thursday Apr 09, 2009
Rituximab May Help Some Severe Lupus Nephritis Cases
Rituximab treatment that achieves early B-cell depletion in cases of severe lupus nephritis can induced complete or partial remission in 60% of patients...
Friday Mar 20, 2009
"Inner Space" Debris Triggers Joint Implant Failure
Immune reactions to metal debris from joint replacements triggers immune-mediated joint failure...
Thursday Feb 19, 2009
Raptiva® Pulled in EU After 3rd PML Case; FDA Warns US Docs
European regulators suspended sales of the psoriasis drug Raptiva® after a 3rd PML death, and the FDA warned US doctors of a 4th suspected case...
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
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...
Wednesday Feb 11, 2009
Cementless Hip Replacements: Still Sturdy After 20 Years
Hip replacements done with cementless metal cups can last up to 20 years after revision arthroplasty and even longer when used for primary hip arthroplasty...
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...
Wednesday Jan 07, 2009
Study Links Osteoporosis Drugs to Jaw Trouble
People taking oral osteoporosis drugs may have a higher risk of developing jaw trouble than previously thought...
Thursday Nov 13, 2008
H. pylori Suspected in Oral Bisphosphonate Intolerance, SSc Stomach Problems
Helicobacter pylori infects nearly half of patients who cannot tolerate oral bisphosphonates and over 80% of systemic sclerosis patients. Treating H. pylori might reduce GI problems and increase treatment options in these and other rheumatoid conditions...
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
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...
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...
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...
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...
Tuesday Oct 21, 2008
Centocor Reports Efficacy of Remicade® vs Azathioprine in Treatment of Crohn’s Disease
Azathioprine is not approved in the US for the treatment of CD but is approved in some countries outside the US and is widely used by gastroenterologists and other physicians in the US to treat CD patients...
Tuesday Oct 21, 2008
Cutting Better Than Splinting for Carpal Tunnel Pain, Numbness, Weakness
A Cochrane review concludes that surgery is better than splinting for relieving the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and that a head-to-head comparison of surgery versus steroid injections is needed...
Wednesday Oct 15, 2008
Genentech Issues Dear Healthcare Provider Letter Regarding Case of PML in a Psoriasis Patient Under Long-Term Treatment With Raptiva®
The 70-year old patient had received Raptiva® (efalizumab) for >4 years to treat chronic plaque psoriasis before being diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy...
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...
Tuesday Sep 23, 2008
Rheumatologists Advised to Test For, Treat H. Pylori to Stop Ulcers in NSAID Users
The role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal lesions is controversial, but the treatment is not…
Wednesday Sep 17, 2008
NSAIDs May Block Prostate Cancer Detection
Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might reduce serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and interfere with prostate cancer detection...
Friday Sep 12, 2008
BioCryst Reports Results From Phase IIa Trial of PNP Inhibitor in Psoriasis; No Evidence of Clinical Efficacy
BCX-4208 is a potent, rationally-designed, inhibitor of PNP—a purine salvage pathway enzyme that is essential for the proliferation of activated T-cells...
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...
Monday Sep 08, 2008
FDA Warns of Histoplasmosis, Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients Taking TNF Inhibitors
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a “MedWatch” warning about the risk of histoplasmosis and other invasive fungal infections in patients taking TNF blockers...
Thursday Sep 04, 2008
“Good Bugs” Offer New Way to Turn Down Inflammatory Response
“Probiotic” helpful bacteria might be able to turn down the body's inflammatory response...
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...
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…
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 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…
Thursday Jul 10, 2008
Merck Serono Reports EMEA Confirms Positive Benefit-Risk Balance With Raptiva® for the Treatment of Psoriasis; European Commission Approved Product Information Update to Include Data on Up to 3 Years of Treatment
The European Commission has approved an update of the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for Raptiva® (efalizumab) in the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis...
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 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…
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...
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...
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...
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...
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…
Tuesday May 27, 2008
Obese Patients at Greater Infection Risk After Hip Replacement
Patients with a BMI of 35 or higher are over 10 times more likely to suffer complications following revision hip replacement surgery...
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...
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...
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...
Tuesday May 06, 2008
FDA Adds “Black Box” Warning About Infections to Enbrel Label
FDA has heightened warnings on the prescribing information for etanercept with regard to serious infections and has warned clinicians to screen patients for latent TB before beginning treatment...
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
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...
Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
Neurochem to Advance Eprodisate (Kiacta™) in Second Phase III Trial for Amyloid A; Marketing Applications Withdrawn in US, EU, and Switzerland
Neurochem (International) Ltd announced that it intends to initiate a second phase III clinical for eprodisate (Kiacta™) to obtain market approval for the treatment of amyloid A (AA) because amyloidosis is a life-threatening disease for which there is no specific treatment...
Thursday Apr 10, 2008
Omega-3 Free Fatty Acids for the Maintenance of Remission in Crohn’s Disease
Researchers found that omega-3 free fatty acids were not effective in preventing relapse in patients with Crohn’s disease…
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...
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...
Friday Mar 28, 2008
Regeneron’s Arcalyst™ (rilonacept), First and Only FDA-Approved Treatment for Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS); Now Available in the US
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that Arcalyst™ (rilonacept) injection for subcutaneous use is now available by prescription in the US for the treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS)...
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...
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…
Friday Mar 07, 2008
UCB Reports That Early Data on Cimzia® From WELCOME Study Demonstrate Efficacy in Infliximab-Refractory Crohn's Patients
UCB announced that initial 6-week data from the WELCOME trial show that Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) is effective in Crohn's patients who are intolerant or who no longer respond to infliximab (INF)...
Thursday Feb 28, 2008
Tysabri May Cause Liver Damage, Health Officials Say
Tysabri, the MS drug recently approved for treatment of Crohn’s disease, can cause liver damage in as few as 6 days…
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...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
Thursday Jan 17, 2008
Elan, Biogen Idec Gain US FDA Approval of Tysabri® for Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Crohn's Disease
Elan Corp, plc and Biogen Idec announced the approval of a supplemental Biologics License Application for Tysabri® (natalizumab) for inducing and maintaining clinical response and remission in adult patients with active moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease...
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)...
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...
Friday Jan 04, 2008
Neurochem's Eprodisate (Kiactaâ„¢) for the treatment of AA Amyloidosis Receives Negative Opinion from CHMP; Decision by US FDA Expected April 2008
Neurochem (International) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Neurochem Inc, announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has issued a negative opinion recommending refusal of the marketing authorization application for eprodisate (Kiactaâ„¢) for the treatment of Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis...
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...
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 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...
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...
Tuesday Nov 27, 2007
Elan, Biogen Idec Report that CHMP Adopts Negative Opinion on Appeal of EU Application for Natalizumab (Tysabri®) to Treat Crohn's
Elan Corp, plc and Biogen Idec announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a negative opinion on the marketing authorization for natalizumab (Tysabri®) as a treatment for moderate-to-severe, active Crohn's disease (CD) in patients who had an inadequate response to or could not take conventional treatments and who have evidence of active inflammation...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
Friday Aug 17, 2007
Mayo Researchers Shake, Blast Biofilms to ID Bacteria Infecting Joint Prostheses
Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new test that identifies organisms infecting joint prostheses more accurately than sampling tissue around the joint at the time of resection...Trampuz A, et al. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:654-663.
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.
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.
Monday Jul 23, 2007
Elan, Biogen Idec to Appeal Negative Ruling on European Application for TysabriR for Crohn's
Elan Corporation, plc, and Biogen Idec announced that they have been informed by the European Medicines Agency that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a negative opinion on the marketing application for the use of Tysabri® (natalizumab).
Monday Jul 23, 2007
Birth Defects Reported After First-Trimester Leflunomide
Leflunomide (AravaR) 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.
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
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…
Thursday Jul 12, 2007
Parvovirus Linked to Many Types of Juvenile Arthritis
Persistent parvovirus infection may trigger juvenile idiopathic arthritis...
Friday Jul 06, 2007
Chi-Med Announces Positive Phase II Data for Botanical Compound, HMPL-004, in Ulcerative Colitis
Chi-Med, the Hutchison Whampoa-backed pharmaceutical and healthcare group, announced positive results for its phase II proof-of-concept study for HMPL-004 in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC).
Thursday Jun 21, 2007
Early Data Show That Experimental B-Cell Blocker Passes Muster
Ofatumumab (Humax-CD20TM), 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...
Monday Jun 18, 2007
GSK and Genmab Report Positive Phase II Results With Ofatumumab (HuMax-CD20) in Patients With RA
GlaxoSmithKline (PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvannia) and Genmab A/S (COPENHAGEN, Denmark) announced positive efficacy data from a phase II study of ofatumumab (HuMax-CD20®), a fully human monoclonal IgG1antibody targeting the CD20 antigen on the surface of B-cells, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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)...
Friday May 11, 2007
Lupus Gene Protects Against Malaria, But Does Malaria Also Prevent Lupus?
A mutation that renders the FcγRIIb receptor nonfunctional vastly improves monocytes' ability to clear malaria parasites, protects lupus-prone mice against malarial disease, and may explain the high prevalence of lupus in some population groups. Interestingly, there is also some evidence suggesting that the body's response to malarial infection might reduce lupus severity in some situations...Clatworthy MR, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2007;104:7169-7174.
Wednesday May 09, 2007
Abbott's ABT-874 Shows Positive Results in Phase II Psoriasis Study
Abbott Laboratories announced positive results from a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study in which its investigational treatment, ABT-874, a fully human monoclonal antibody designed to target and neutralize interleukin-12 and interleukin-23, significantly reduced psoriasis symptoms in the majority of patients treated...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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)...
Wednesday Mar 21, 2007
BioMimetic Receives Orphan Drug Designation for rhPDGF-BB Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc, an emerging leader in developing and commercializing bioactive drug-device combination drugs to heal musculoskeletal injuries and disease, including periodontal, orthopaedic, spine and sports injuries, announced that it has received orphan drug designation from the US FDA for its protein therapeutic, recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF-BB)...
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...
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...
Friday Feb 16, 2007
No Gain to Pre-Op Antibiotics Before Knee Arthroscopy
Routine knee arthroscopy is associated with a very low rate of infection, and preoperative antibiotics do not reduce that rate…
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...
Thursday Feb 08, 2007
Centocor Releases Phase II Data on CNTO 1275, a Monoclonal Antibody Targeting IL-12/IL-23, for Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced that phase II data showed that patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who received subcutaneous injections of CNTO 1275 experienced significant clearance of skin disease and significant improvements in quality of life...
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...
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...
Tuesday Dec 19, 2006
FDA Warns of Fatal PML Risk With Rituximab Treatment
FDA reports deaths of two lupus patients treated with rituximab, warns of PML risk...
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...
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
Pregnant Women with SLE Face High Risk of Death, Infection
Pregnant women with lupus need to be followed closely by both a rheumatologist and an obstetrician experienced in high-risk pregnancies, as these women are at increased risks of mortality, infection, and other serious complications during gestation...
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).
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.
Thursday Nov 16, 2006
CDC Pushes to Put CFS on Doctor's Radar Screen
A new public education campaign by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aims to convince healthcare providers that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is real and needs to be more effectively recognized and treated... CDC Press Conference, November 3, 2006.
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.
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
Tuesday Oct 10, 2006
ASBMR Convenes International Task Force on Jaw Osteonecrosis, Issues Interim Guidelines for Osteoporosis Patients
Reacting to multiple reports of jaw osteonecrosis in patients treated with bisphosphonates, the ASBMR has convened an international task force to address this "emerging and urgent clinical problem" and has issued interim clinical recommendations... Shane E, et al. JBMR. 2006;21:1503-1505.
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.
Monday Oct 02, 2006
La Jolla Pharmaceutical to Expand Number of Clinical Trial Sites for Its Phase III International Trial of Riquent for the Treatment of Lupus Renal Disease
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (SAN DIEGO, Calif.), a biotechnology company developing therapeutics for antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases and inflammation, announced progress and the expansion of its phase III trial of Riquent® (abetimus sodium, previously referred to as LJP 394) for the treatment of lupus renal disease, a leading cause of sickness and death in patients with lupus.
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.
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.
Thursday Sep 28, 2006
Centocor's Remicade Approved by US FDA for Treatment of Chronic Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Centocor, Inc. (HORSHAM, Pa.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced that the US FDA has approved RemicadeR (infliximab) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic severe (ie, extensive and/or disabling) plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy and for whom other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate.
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]
Monday Sep 18, 2006
Most Stomach Pain in Childhood Lupus Needs High-Dose Steroids, Not Laparotomy
Patients with childhood-onset lupus who present with abdominal pain likely are suffering flares of the underlying SLE and in most cases should receive high doses of corticosteroids—not be rushed to surgery for presumed appendicitis... Richer O, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006;3 July 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
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.
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 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).
Tuesday Jul 18, 2006
Orthopaedic Surgeons Must Learn to Manage Obese Patients
As the epidemic of obesity collides with the skyrocketing rates of joint replacement surgery, orthopaedic surgeons will need to brush up on skills to better manage obese patients…Guss D, et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2006;14:425-432.
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.
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.
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.
Thursday Jun 22, 2006
EULAR Lupus Guidelines Make the Best of Sparse Data
While EULAR experts agree on the best treatment of SLE and recommend an integrated approach to medical care, the lupus task force also warns of a worrying lack of evidence on the benefits of lifestyle modifications and the impact of primary preventive measures... Boumpas D. 2006 EULAR Meeting.
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.
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
MRI Reveals Little in Low Back Pain
Routine use of MRI in early episodes of low back pain is probably a mistake... Carragee E. Presented at: American Pain Society 25th Annual Meeting; May 3–6, 2006; San Antonio, Tex.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Wednesday Mar 22, 2006
Infections Following Revision Arthroplasty Are Increasing
The rate of deep infections following revision hip and knee arthroplasty is increasing and will continue to rise unless action is taken... Kurtz S, et al. Presented at: 52nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society; March 18–22, 2006; Chicago, Ill. Abstract 235.
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.
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...
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.
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 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.
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.
Tuesday Nov 29, 2005
Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) More Effective Than Cyclophosphamide in Lupus Nephritis
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive agent approved for the prevention of transplant rejection, may emerge as an effective alternative to IV cyclophosphamide, the current standard of care for lupus nephritis patients... Ginzler, EM, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2219-2228.
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.
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.
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: 69th 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 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 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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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 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
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.
Wednesday Jun 08, 2005
Future of Vasculitis Treatments Appears Promising
Experts urge revisiting TNF-α blockade as induction therapy in vasculitis and look forward to B-cell depletion agents in the future...The Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR. Vienna, Austria, June 8-11, 2005
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].
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.
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.
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.
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].
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
The Future of Spinal Surgery: Artificial Discs and Bone Growth Factors Show Promise
PCM cervical discs, Charité lumbar discs, and BMPs demonstrate improved outcomes and greater patient satisfaction as alternatives to traditional spinal fusion surgery...72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; February 23, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.)
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.
|
