Tag Archives: arthritis biologics

eating fish rheumatoid arthritis

RA Research Briefs: Tofacitinib, Fish, Remission

Keep up-to-date on the latestrheumatoid arthritis (RA)research with our brief research summaries.

Tofacitinib Plus Methotrexate May Work As Well As Biologic

If methotrexate (MTX) alone fails to control RA, adding the oral Janus kinase (JAX) inhibitor tofacitinib (Xeljanz) may be as effective as the standard practice of adding a biologic. The JAX inhibitor belongs to the third category ofdisease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)called targeted DMARDs. In a study of 1,146 patients with rheumatoid arthritis that had not adequately responded to MTX alone, approximately a third were switched to tofacitinib, while the others received either tofacitinib or thebiologicadalimumab (Humira)和甲氨蝶呤。在6个月时,接受托法替尼单药治疗的患者中只有38%的患者ACR50,即50%的改善,而接受托法替尼和甲氨蝶呤治疗的患者中有46%的患者达到了这种反应。联合使用阿达木巴布和甲氨蝶呤的患者中,44%的患者获得了与tofacitnib和甲氨蝶呤组相似的改善反应。

SOURCE:The Lancet, July 2017Continue readingRA Research Briefs: Tofacitinib, Fish, Remission

rheumatoid arthritis biologic tapering

Research Identifies Which RA Patients May Successfully Reduce Their Biologics

A new study presented recently at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology identifies four factors that may predict whichrheumatoid arthritis (RA)patients might successfully taper the dose of their biologic medication.

Althoughbiologicsare highly effective in controlling RA and its symptoms, patients in some cases prefer not to use them.Past studieshave shown that it is possible to taper and even stop the medication in certain patients who are in remission once they have been successfully treated with one of these drugs.

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Biologics Rheumatoid Arthritis Cancer

Biologics Appear Safe for Some Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Who’ve Had Cancer

Researchers set out to answer a pressing question: Is it safe forrheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients who have had cancer in the past to use a biologic drug rather than a traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), like methotrexate, to control their disease? Their answer, detailed in a study recently published online in the journalRheumatology, is reassuring. They found that patients with a previous malignancy who later took certain biologics did not appear to have an increased risk of cancer after an average of five years, compared to those who took a traditional DMARD.
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Jakinibs Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Will Jakinibs Change Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment?

An emerging class of medications called janus kinase inhibitors (JAK inhibitors, orjakinibs) is offering new hope to patients withrheumatoid arthritis(RA) who don’t find relief with other treatments.

What are Jakinibs?

Jakinibs are a new class of medication, sometimes called oral biologics. The word “biologic” is misleading, however, because jakinibs work in an entirely different way than the biologics that have been used to date. Jakinibs are small molecules that workinsidecells. Traditional biologics such as etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), abatacept (Orencia) and Infliximab (Remicade) block pro-inflammatory cytokines fromoutside.

Jakinibs are taken by mouth. Traditional biologics are given through infusions or injections.

Continue readingWill Jakinibs Change Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment?