In a clinical trial of pediatric patients, tocilizumab proved safe and effective for treating systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis…
Clazakizumab for Adults with Active PsA
This is the first clinical trial of an IL-6–targeted therapy in PsA. Clazakizumab may be an effective treatment option for musculoskeletal aspects of PsA, but because of the lack of a dose response in this study, further studies are required to confirm the appropriate dose. The safety profile is consistent with the pharmacology of IL-6 blockade and prior clinical experience with this antibody in rheumatoid arthritis…
Generic TNF-Alpha Inhibitors Comparable to Established Brands
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Biosimilar tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors appear equivalent to the branded original versions, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis. As Dr. G. Caleb Alexander tells Reuters Health by email, “biologic treatments represent a rapidly growing proportion of prescription drug expenditures and thus there is enormous interest in whether or not biosimilar products…
Lupus Expert Calls for Better Research, Outcomes of Clinical Trials
CHICAGO—A lupus expert recently issued a call for action to improve outcomes of lupus clinical trials, a field that has had so many failed potential therapies that he said it seems to be “cursed.” Richard Furie, MD, chief of rheumatology at Northwell Health in New York, said at the ACR’s 2016 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium that…
French Prosecutors Open Probe into Fatal Drug Trial
PARIS (Reuters)—Paris prosecutors said on Tuesday they have begun an involuntary manslaughter investigation into a failed drug trial that left one dead and five hospitalized in January. The prosecutors’ office said the investigation had been opened to determine whether there was a criminal element in any mistakes made or whether it was simply the result…
Rheumatology Drug Updates: Etanercept for Pediatric Plaque Psoriasis
Etanercept Submitted for Chronic, Severe Plaque Psoriasis in Children The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the supplemental Biologics License Application for etanercept (Enbrel) for treating pediatric patients with chronic, severe plaque psoriasis.1 The application was submitted in early January 2016 and is based on results of a one-year Phase 3 study with…
Long-Term Therapy with Lilly Drug Found to Help Plaque Psoriasis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Aggregated results from three studies of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis show that Eli Lilly’s injectable drug ixekizumab can completely resolve the plaques in about one third of cases after 12 weeks of treatment. And with continued therapy every four weeks, at least half maintained or attained complete resolution of…
Baricitinib Has Promising Clinical Trial Results for Treating RA
Recent clinical trials have shown that baricitinib is safe and effective for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have proved non-responsive to multiple biologic treatments…
Golimumab Effective as Maintenance Treatment for Active Ulcerative Colitis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Subcutaneous golimumab every four weeks provides effective long-term maintenance for patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC), according to results from the PURSUIT-SC extension study. The main PURSUIT-M study showed that golimumab treatment maintained clinical responses through Week 54. For most patients, maintenance therapy for UC is required long term. Dr. Peter R….
Regeneron Pain Drug Clears Late-Stage Trial
(Reuters)—Drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said on Monday its experimental drug to treat moderate to severe osteoarthritis pain was successful in a late-stage study. The drug, fasinumab, was tested on 421 patients with a history of inadequate pain relief or intolerance to current painkillers. Fasinumab binds to nerve growth factor (NGF) proteins and block their activity,…