Mild RA can be treated withnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen orcorticosteroids.
If it is approved, olokizumab could give RA patients another choice of treatment.
What Is RA?
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As the disease progresses, the larger joints can also be involved.
Over time, erosion of the bones anddeformity of the jointscan also occur.
It also worked as well as a standard RA treatment, adalimumab (the generic name for Humira).
The researchers enrolled 464 RA patients who had not had a good response to methotrexate.
The patients were put into different groups.
This endpoint is known as the American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response.
While those words might be meaningful for researchers and providers, what about patients?
Smithwho was not involved in the studysaid that non-inferior is a statistical term.
Researchers choose endpoints like superiority and non-inferiority as measures that get set before a study starts.
It could also come with some downsides.
About 70% of patients who received olokizumab in the trial experienced mild-to-moderate adverse eventsmostly infections.
However, thats not uncommon with DMARDs.
Others inhibit specific chemicals, liketumor necrosis factor.
Olokizumab is amonoclonal antibodythat binds directly with interleukin-6 and blocks its action.
A patient with RA might try one jot down of treatment only to find it doesnt help.
Others start out on one therapy and it works for a while, then stops working.
In these circumstances, having another option could make a big difference in helping them manage the disease.
Additional options are usually a benefit for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Smith said.
Therefore, Miller doubts that olokizumab will be approved based on this study alone.
If and when the FDA approves it, olokizumab could give RA patients another treatment option.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Rheumatoid arthritis.
2020;50(3):409-413. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.01.004
Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis.
2022;387(8):715-726. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2201302
