New Drug Relieves Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Rheumatoid arthritis patients may have a new way to relieve the pain and inflammation in their joints.

Research shows the new drug Actemra significantly improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients who have not benefited from traditional treatments. Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the current standard of care for RA, along with anti-inflammatory drugs rest, and strengthening exercises.

1,216 RA patients in the TOWARD study got either Actemra intravenously every four weeks plus DMARDs weekly or placebo infusions plus DMARDs weekly.

Results show RA symptoms decreased by 20 percent in 61-percent of patients who took Actemra plus DMARDs compared to only 25-percent of those in the placebo group. And about one in three patients in the Actemra group went into remission. These findings are consistent with the results of the OPTION study -- another trial on Actemra.

“We are very encouraged by the findings of this new TOWARD data which suggest that Actemra plus DMARDs demonstrates significant improvement in RA symptoms compared with DMARDs alone,” lead investigator Mark C. Genovese, M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine, was quoted as saying. “These data further establish the efficacy of Actemra and confirm that inhibiting the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor is a novel method of reducing RA symptoms.”

The chronic inflammation in patients with RA causes pain, stiffness and swelling, which can make patients lose the function in their joints if the disease destroys the bone and cartilage -- this often leads to progressive disability. It can also lead to lung, skin, and liver problems. After 10 years, less than half of patients can continue to work or function normally on a daily basis. More than 21 million people worldwide have RA.

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SOURCE: American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, November 6-11, 2007

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