Related Articles Results

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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
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...

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...

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...

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…

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...

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...

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 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...

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…

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…

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
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...

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...

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…

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 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
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...

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...

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…

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...

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 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...

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…

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...

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…

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
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…

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…

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...

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...

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...

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…

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…

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…

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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)...

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)...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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)...

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...

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
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)...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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 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 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...

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...

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...

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…

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...

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...

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...

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)...

Thursday Feb 22, 2007
Zimmer and ISTO Start Clinical Trial of Neocartilage (DeNovo® ET Engineered Tissue Graft), a Novel Cartilage Regeneration Treatment 
Zimmer Holdings, Inc, an orthopaedic leader in reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma, and related orthopaedic surgical products, and ISTO Technologies, Inc, a clinical-stage orthobiologic company that focuses on cell-based technology for the repair and regeneration of damaged cartilage in joints and spinal discs, announced the initiation of a clinical trial for Neocartilage, a living tissue-engineered graft...

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)...

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
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 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...

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...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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). 

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
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.

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.

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).

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)…

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...

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).

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 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.

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...

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 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 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...

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...

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 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. 

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.

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 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.

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.

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
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
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...

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
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...

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 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...

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.

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.

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)...

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.

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...

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...

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.

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...

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 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...

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.

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...

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
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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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).

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...

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.

Tuesday Sep 13, 2005
Two New Treatments Show Promise in Paget's Disease
Zoledronic acid and osteoprotegerin found to be promising new therapies for the management of Paget's disease... Reid IR, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:898-908; Cundy MD, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:918-923.

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.

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...

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...

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.

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 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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
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

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
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 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.

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.

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.)

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 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.