Rheumatology

Low-Dose Methotrexate Plus Adalimumab Yields Similar PROs to High-Dose Treatment

May 3rd 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

While adalimumab and methotrexate are understood to have a synergistic effect, the MUSICA trial sought to evaluate the ideal dose of methotrexate needed in patients who receive combination therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

Motion Analysis Shows That Auto-Injectors Can Be Used by Patients With Varying Degrees of Disability

April 28th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

While injectable drugs, including some innovator anti–tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and their biosimilars, have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hand disability can limit the ability of patients with RA to use syringes to administer medication. Prefilled, disposable auto-injectors may help to alleviate this issue and have demonstrated acceptability studies, but questions have remained about whether patients with reduced manual dexterity may still experience needle displacement when using these devices.

ACR Says Short-Term Insurance Plans Could Hurt Patients With Rheumatic Diseases

April 27th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) told CMS in a letter this week that short-term, limited-duration insurance plans could reduce or restrict access to crucial care for people living with rheumatic diseases.

Advisory Committee Gives Mixed Review to JAK Inhibitor Expected to Challenge Humira

April 24th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Yesterday, the FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee convened for a vote on whether to recommend approval of Eli Lilly’s baricitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor that the company hopes to sell as Olumiant for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The advisory committee voted in favor of recommending approval of a dose of 2 mg and against recommending approval of a higher 4-mg dose because of concerns about safety, including the risk of thrombosis.

ACR SOTA Symposium: Precision Medicine in Rheumatology

April 20th 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

At the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)’s State-of-the-Art (SOTA) Symposium, held last week in Chicago, Illinois, Judith James, MD, PhD, chair of arthritis and clinical immunology at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, presented a talk on precision medicine in rheumatology.

ACR SOTA Symposium: Update on RA Treatment

April 19th 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

Rheumatologists gathered from across the country last week to discuss the latest approaches in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases at the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) 2018 State-of-the-Art (SOTA) Clinical Symposium held in Chicago, Illinois.

Adalimumab More Effective Than Infliximab in Treating Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis

April 18th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Since 2017, the Italian National Agency for Drugs has approved of the off-label use of infliximab and adalimumab for juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis, and has created a patient registry to collect anonymized data from patients in 24 pediatric rheumatology and ophthalmology centers across Italy.

Patient Support Programs Associated With Greater Likelihood of Controlled AS

April 17th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Canadian patients who receive brand-name adalimumab (Humira) to treat ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are eligible for a patient support program, provided by drug maker AbbVie, that includes personalized services such as coaching phone calls before and after initiating treatment.

Could Microbiota Predict Response to Anti-TNF Agents in Spondyloarthritis?

April 16th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

The researchers found that a high proportion of microbiota of the Betaproteobacteria class and Burkholderiales order prior to treatment was associated with clinical response at 3 months.

ACR Says Final Rule on EHB Benchmark Plans Could Reduce Access to Biologics

April 13th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

This week, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) raised concerns that CMS’ final 2019 Payment Notice Rule, which provides states with increased flexibility to determine which plan options they can select as Essential Health Benefit- (EHB) benchmark plans and select their own sets of benefits, could seriously jeopardize care for patients with inflammatory diseases.