Overall, minimal disease activity was realized at least once by about half of golimumab-treated patients. No matter what treatment patients were initially randomized to receive, those patients who showed more improvement in at least three or four consecutive time points had significantly less radiographic progression and greater functional outcomes at five years compared with those who did not meet minimal disease activity criteria. These outcomes did not necessarily correlate with changes in skin involvement.
In this study, 50 or 100 mg subcutaneous golimumab every four weeks led to better long-term functional improvement, better radiographic outcomes and better patient global assessment in patients who attained persistent minimal disease activity.
Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, CGP, RPh, is a freelance medical writer based in New York City and a pharmacist at New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.
References
- Flexion Therapeutics Inc. News release: Flexion Therapeutics reports primary endpoint met in pivotal phase 3 trial of zilretta in knee osteoarthritis. 2016 Feb 16.
- Kavanaugh A, van der Heijde D, Beutler A, et al. Radiographic progression of patients with psoriatic arthritis who achieve minimal disease activity in response to golimumab therapy: Results through five years of a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016 Feb;68(2):267–274. doi: 10.1002/acr.22576.
*Edited 3/29/2016 to correct and delete references to non-steroidal.
