Good news for the approximately two million Americans withpsoriatic arthritis (PsA). Those with active disease now have two new treatment options: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December approved both ixekizumab (Taltz) and tofacitinib (Xeljanz) for thetreatment of PsA.
Continue readingFDA Approves Two New Drugs for Psoriatic Arthritis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the biologic drug abatacept (Orencia) to treatpsoriatic arthritis (PsA)in adults. It’s already approved forrheumatoid arthritis (RA)and for one subtype ofjuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Abatacept is abiologic medicationthat works by targeting T-lymphocytes (T cells), immune cells that are overproduced in people with inflammatory arthritis. The drug, technically called a “selective costimulation modulator,” attaches to the surface of the cells, preventing them from communicating with other cells and producing chemicals that can lead to joint damage and symptoms like pain and swelling. It’s given as a monthly infusion or weekly injection.