Video: Every Case Tells a Story| Webinar: ACR/CHEST ILD Guidelines in Practice

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Drug Updates

Subcategories:AnalgesicsBiologics/DMARDs

Newer Biologics for RA on Par with TNF-Inhibitors for CV Risk

Laura Newman  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The newer disease-modifying drugs for rheumatoid arthritis appear to offer the same or even better cardiovascular (CV) protection than older tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, hints a large study. “We really haven’t had a good understanding on where the non-TNF biologics and CV risk stand,” Dr. Jeffrey R. Curtis of the University…

Tocilizumab Plus Methotrexate Faster Fix in Some with RA

David Douglas  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate, adding tocilizumab to the regimen is more effective than simply switching to tocilizumab, according to Japanese researchers. Dr. Tsutomu Takeuchi told Reuters Health by email that the approach “more rapidly suppressed inflammation than tocilizumab switched from methotrexate, leading to superior clinical…

Theranos Lab May Pose Jeopardy to Patient Health

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—Deficient practices at a lab operated by blood-testing startup Theranos pose “immediate jeopardy to patient health and safety,” the U.S. government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in a letter to the company released on Wednesday. Theranos, founded and led by Elizabeth Holmes, has been in the spotlight after reports in the Wall Street…

U.S. Sen. Markey Places Hold on Obama’s Nominee to Lead FDA

Toni Clarke  |  

(Reuters)—U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said on Monday he has placed a hold on President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until the agency agrees to reform its process for approving opioid painkillers. Markey wants future opioid-approval matters to be reviewed by an FDA advisory committee, and believes the committee…

GSK, Astra, J&J Link with Universities in New Drug Research Fund

Reuters Staff  |  

LONDON (Reuters)—GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson have joined with three leading British universities to create a new 40 million pounds ($57 million) fund backing early drug research. The Apollo Therapeutics Fund, which aims to improve the speed and potential of university research being translated into new medicines, is a further example of a trend…

Five Charged in U.S. with Stealing Secrets from GlaxoSmithKline

Bill Berkrot  |  

REUTERS—Five people, including two former GlaxoSmithKline researchers, were charged with a scheme to steal trade secrets from the British drugmaker for potential sale in China, according to indictments announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The indictments include charges of conspiracy to steal trade secrets, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to…

Small Increased Risk for CIN & Cervical CA with TNF Inhibitors

Laura Newman  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and those taking a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor are at increased risk of cervical cancer, according to a study from Sweden. “Whether this (the increase in invasive cancers) was due to the TNF inhibitors, disease severity, or…

Secukinumab Receives 2 New Approvals: PsA & AS

  |  

The FDA approved secukinumab (Cosentyx) this past week for the treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis and active psoriatic arthritis. These two new approvals are based on the safety and efficacy outcomes from four placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials in more than 1,500 adults with AS or PsA…