Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Doesn't Promote Cancer Oct 30, 2009
Swedish researchers analyzed data from 6,366 rheumatoid arthritis patients who started anti-TNF therapy with infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira) or etanercept (Enbrel) between January 1999 and July 2006. The study participants were compared with other groups of rheumatoid arthritis patients, including 61,160 not taking medications, 4,015 taking methotrexate (the gold standard of treatment) and 4,105 taking combinations of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (other than TNF blockers). (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment does not increase cancer Risk in RA patients Oct 29, 2009
D., from Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden assessed the short-term and medium-term cancer risk for RA patients using anti-TNF therapies: infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept. Details of the study appear in the November issue of Arthritis atism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology published by Wiley-Blackwell. (EurekAlert!)
Abbott and Eisai Submit Application for Approval of Humira(R) for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease in Japan Sep 30, 2009
Tokyo, Sept 30, 2009 - (JCN Newswire) - Abbott Japan Co., Ltd. and Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that they had submitted an application for approval of Crohn's disease as an additional indication for Humira(R) (adalimumab), a fully human monoclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibody jointly developed by the two companies ... Adalimumab is a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the activity of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a protein that plays a central role in inflammatory reactions in... (JCN Network, Japan)
Certain Arthritis, Crohn's Drugs May Raise Kids' Cancer Risk Aug 6, 2009
They include Remicade (infliximab), Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) and Simponi (golimumab). "FDA announced that it has completed its analysis of TNF blockers and has concluded that there is an increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers associated with the use of these drugs in children and adolescents," according to FDA spokeswomen Crystal Rice. (MEDLINEplus)
New Drug Promising against Rheumatoid Arthritis Jul 1, 2009
In a commentary, Dr. Yusuf Yazici of New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York City, said that "for those patients who have failed or had an inadequate response to etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab or abatacept, golimumab might be a good option.". The study, which was funded by drug makers Centocor, Inc. and Schering- Plough, appears online June 29 inThe Lancet. (MEDLINEplus)
Risk of tuberculosis from arthritis medication examined Jul 1, 2009
A new study examined cases of TB associated with anti-TNF therapy and found that the risk of TB is higher for patients receiving anti-TNF monoclonal antibody therapy (infliximab or adalimumab) than for those receiving soluble TNF receptor therapy (etanercept). The study is published in the July issue of Arthritis atism (). (EurekAlert!)
Cost shifting may make arthritis medications too expensive for medicare beneficiaries Jun 2, 2009
Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab are effective at reducing symptoms and slowing progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These drugs act more quickly, require less laboratory monitoring, and are better tolerated than nonbiologic DMARDs, but they are also up to 100 times more expensive. (EurekAlert!)
AGA Institute presents cutting-edge research during DDW May 29, 2009
Adalimumab Induces and Maintains Mucosal Healing in Patients With Moderate to Severe Ileocolonic Crohn's Disease First Results of the EXTEND Trial. P. Rutgeerts, et al. (3:15 p.m.). (EurekAlert!)
New Drug Shows Promising Results For Psoriatic Arthritis Apr 16, 2009
16, 2009) Psoriatic arthritis affects about 11 percent of patients with psoriasis. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF ) agents, which block signaling molecules that induce inflammation, improve the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. (Science Daily)
Type Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication May Be Associated With Increased Risk For Shingles Mar 1, 2009
The researchers analyzed data from patients who began treatment with adalimumab or infliximab (monoclonal anti TNF- antibodies), etanercept (a fusion protein), the monotherapeutic agent anakinra, or when patients changed conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) ... The researchers found a significant association between herpes zoster and treatment with the monoclonal anti TNF- antibodies infliximab and adalimumab, although this risk was lower than the threshold for clinical... (Science Daily)
Cephalon Launches Takeover Offer for Australian Biotechnology Company, Arana Therapeutics Feb 27, 2009
HUMIRA(R) (adalimumab) is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. REMICADE(R) (infliximab) is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson. (PR Newswire)
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment of Ustekinumab Effective, Study Suggests Feb 23, 2009
(June 12, 2008) Adalimumab therapy is effective and well-tolerated in ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients with a previously inadequate response to anti-tumour necrosis. (June 22, 2006) Patients diagnosed with 'undifferentiated rheumatoid' arthritis could actually have their disease outlook changed significantly if treatment is given at the right time, according to the results of a. (Science Daily)
Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Raise Shingles Risk Feb 19, 2009
In the latest study, researchers from the German Rheumatism Research Centre in Berlin looked at 5,040 people taking the TNF blockers infliximab (Remicade) or adalimumab (Humira), the fusion protein etanercept (Enbrel) or the monotherapeutic drug anakinra (Kineret). Although generally considered a TNF blocker, Enbrel was not put in that category for the study because it works with a slightly different mechanism than Remicade and Humira, explained the study's lead author, Dr. Anja Strangfeld, of... (MEDLINEplus)
TNF-Blocker Therapy for RA May Trigger Psoriasis Feb 7, 2009
The incidence was significantly higher in patients treated with Humira (also known as adalimumab) than in those who received Enbrel (etanercept) or Remicade (infliximab). "These findings present an interesting paradox," Hyrich pointed out, "as anti-TNF therapies are very effective in the treatment of severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The explanation behind these reported cases remains largely unknown.". (MEDLINEplus)
