The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7257 p42
12 July 2003

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European League Against Rheumatism Congree 2003 (more)

Drugs for arthritic disease continue to show promise

A novel cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor and a human anti-TNF antibody could help improve arthritic disease, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism held in Lisbon last month.

Novartis reported data on lumiracoxib (Prexige), confirming its efficacy in osteoarthritis. Results from a 13-week study in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee showed that lumiracoxib was more effective in reducing pain intensity and improving functional status compared with placebo. It also showed the drug to be as effective as celecoxib after 13 weeks of treatment.

The conference also heard results of new research on adalimumab, a fully human anti-TNF monoclonal antibody for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Adalimumab has received regulatory approval in the United States. A European licence is expected in September 2003.

Manufacturer Abbott says the new data show that patients taking adalimumab (40mg every other week) in conjunction with methotrexate "can expect to enjoy one additional day of 'perfect health' for every 10 days of treatment compared to patients being treated with methotrexate alone". This is equivalent to an additional 36 days a year. "Perfect health" was measured by a questionnaire reviewing a patient's dexterity, emotional well-being, level of pain, speech, hearing and vision.

Earlier data from the studies, originally reported in 2001 (PJ, 30 June 2001, p873), showed sustained efficacy and reduction of disability for 24 months in over 70 per cent of patients with adalimumab and methotrexate.

Professor Paul Emery, department of rheumatology, Leeds University, said: "Traditional rheumatoid arthritis treatments may become less effective over time and patients may also experience problems with tolerability and side effects. Approximately 40 per cent of people stop work within five years of being diagnosed with RA, so the radiographic data presented for adalimumab are encouraging in terms of their implications [for improving] disability."