Golimumab: New Drug May Help Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis

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New Drug May Help Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=99254

SOURCE: Arthritis & Rheumatism, news release, April 6, 2009

The drug golimumab shows promise in treating psoriatic arthritis, according

to a new study. Psoriatic arthritis affects about 11% of people with

psoriasis.

The University of California, San Diego-led study included 405 patients who

still had active psoriatic arthritis after taking anti-rheumatic drugs or

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The patients were randomly selected to

receive injections of either 50 or 100 milligrams of golimumab or placebo

every four weeks for 24 weeks.

The phase 3 study found that 51% of patients in the 50-mg group, 45% of

those in the 100-mg group, and 9% of those in the placebo group achieved the

American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) by week

14. The improvements were in areas such as swollen and tender joints, pain,

disease activity, physical function, and levels of C-reactive protein.

In addition, more patients in the 50-mg or 100-mg golimumab groups achieved

ACR50 and ACR70 responses than those in the placebo group. Golimumab also

improved psoriasis symptoms. Only 3% of patients in the placebo group

achieved at least a 75% improvement in psoriasis symptoms, compared with 40%

of those in the 50-mg golimumab group and 58% of those in the 100-mg

golimumab group.

A small number of patients who received the drug experienced injection site

reactions, and most of them were mild, the researchers said.

The study appears in the April issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Golimumab is a human monoclonal antibody designed to block signaling

molecules that induce inflammation. A study released last year found that

golimumab eased rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and even put some patients

into remission.