Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory musculoskeletal disease and an important cause of diminished quality-of-life for the affected individuals and with a major impact on society because of decreased work-force participation. Treatment of RA has been advanced dramatically during the past two decades by the advent of biological therapies. A large number of such agents have been approved and several additional ones are in late-stage clinical developments. Because of the high price of biologics, pharmacoeconomical considerations have become an important part of the appraisal of such medications. Current therapeutic developments include the development of additional biologics with various specific targets, the development of small-molecule compounds with similar efficacies, and entirely new approaches to treat autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as RA. ... Read more

Abstract: Dramatic progress in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has led to an early and aggressive treatment strategy, combining DMARDS with biological agents. Since these therapies are able to induce initial clinical control, attention has shifted toward the maintenance of this state. Tools to maintain long-term remission are still lacking but may be found in the ability to establish immunological tolerance. Tolerance can be induced in several specific and nonspecific ways, including manipulation of costimulatory signals, induction of regulatory T cells, and tolerization to heat shock proteins. Induction of disease control with the current combination therapies, followed by progressive withdrawal in parallel with re-establishing immunological tolerance, may be an attractive approach in the near future. ... Read more

Abstract: Autoimmune diseases are chronic disorders and are highly prevalent in the population. It is thus logical to see whether patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases are more prone to cancer. Studies show that most autoimmune diseases are not linked to cancer. However, patients with rheumatic arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus do have an increased risk for lymphoma. ... Read more

Abstract: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate have been the mainstay treatments for rheumatoid arthritis for decades. In the past few years, anti-TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) biopharmaceuticals have sparked a revolution. More drugs targeting the inflammation pathway are in the works. ... Read more

Other Names: D2E7, Adalimumab.

Maker: Abbott Laboratories.

Disease Treated: Adult moderate to severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Approval Status: Approved by the US FDA for marketing on December 31, 2002.

Chemical/Biological Nature: HUMIRA is a recombinant all human IgG1 monoclonal antibody specific for human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Components responsible for the antibody’s specificity were discovered by phage display technology (Discovery Medicine, November 2002). The monoclonal antibody is composed of the human antibody heavy and light chain variable regions and human IgG1 constant region. HUMIRA has 1,330 amino acids and ... Read more