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

Drug Updates

Subcategories:AnalgesicsBiologics/DMARDs

J&J’s Stelara Succeeds in Phase 3 Crohn’s Disease Trial

Bill Berkrot  |  

(Reuters)—Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara (ustekinumab) was significantly better than placebo at inducing clinical response and remissions in patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease, according to data from a late stage trial, providing ammunition for a potential expanded approval of the medicine. Stelara, a biotech medicine that blocks inflammation, is approved to treat plaque psoriasis…

Rituximab May Benefit Patients with Refractory JIA-Associated Uveitis

Lorraine L. Janeczko  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Rituximab may calm juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis and especially benefit patients who haven’t responded to other biologic treatments, a study from Italy suggests. With its convenient dosing schedule, rituximab may be a new treatment option for patients with autoimmune diseases, especially for those who have not responded to tumor necrosis factor…

Adalimumab, Tacrolimus Effective for Treating Refractory Ulcerative Colitis

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The human IgG1 anti-TNF antibody adalimumab is safe and effective for short- and long-term treatment, and the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus given short-term brings remission, in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis, according to two new studies in the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. In the first study, online Sept. 21, Dr. Tamas Molnar…

FDA Declines to Expand Approval of Pfizer Arthritis Drug Xeljanz

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—U.S. health regulators declined to approve Pfizer Inc’s oral rheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz (tofacitinib) to treat moderate to severe cases of plaque psoriasis, the drugmaker said on Wednesday. Pfizer said it received a complete response letter from the Food and Drug Administration. Such letters typically outline concerns and conditions that must be addressed in order…

FDA Issues Stronger Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Warning

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, CGP, RPh  |  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has toughened the existing warnings for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) due to their stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) risk increase.1 Due to a continual review of these products, FDA is requiring label updates for all prescription NSAIDs. Over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs already list the increased risk of MI and…

Transatlantic Divide: How U.S. Pays Three Times More for Drugs

Reuters  |  

LONDON (Reuters)—U.S. prices for the world’s 20 top-selling medicines are, on average, three times higher than in Britain, according to an analysis carried out for Reuters. The finding underscores a transatlantic gulf between the price of treatments for a range of diseases and follows demands for lower drug costs in America from industry critics such…

Tabalumab Modestly Effective in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Tabalumab, a monoclonal antibody to B-cell activating factor, was modestly better than placebo in relieving symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to results from the ILLUMINATE-2 trial. “Lupus is a complicated disease that does not behave the same way in all patients who share the clinical symptoms,” Dr. Joan T. Merrill…

Biotechs Extend Selloff as Pricing Concerns Intensify

Caroline Valetkevitch & Bill Berkrot  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—U.S. biotech shares extended their recent downward spiral on Tuesday as concerns about drug pricing continued to plague the sector while disappointing news from Illumina and other companies added to selling pressure. The Nasdaq Biotechnology index, down 4%, has now fallen about 17% since just before Hillary Clinton, front-runner to be the Democratic nominee…