More Can Be Done to Improve Outcomes in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Survey

[Guest guest]

More Can Be Done to Improve Outcomes in Patients with Rheumatoid

Arthritis, Survey

11 Jun 2005

Results from a recent Interactive® survey of more than 500

European rheumatologists shed new light on current trends and practices

in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, including optimal use of

biologic therapies. In particular, rheumatologists acknowledged that

more can to be done to improve patient outcomes, including switching

biologic therapies in patients who demonstrate a less-than-optimal

response to initial treatment. The results were unveiled during the

2005 European League against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of

Rheumatology (EULAR). The physician survey and the patient survey were

sponsored by Schering-Plough Corporation.

The majority of rheumatologists surveyed (88 percent) believe that RA

patients may improve when switched from one anti-TNF product to

another. However, only 47 percent of rheumatologists actually switch to

another biologic when patients experience a partial response (lack of

control of inflammation and symptoms) and only 65 percent switch when

patients do not respond. Among rheumatologists surveyed, 75 percent

identified methotrexate as their first-line therapy of choice but

indicated that it was an inadequate treatment in terms of achieving

remission, fast onset of action for symptom control and retarding joint

erosion. Those surveyed also identified these treatment goals as the

reason for initiating biologic therapy.

“With an abundance of recent data supporting the use and benefits of

biologics in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, it's particularly

timely that we now try to better understand how rheumatologists are

responding to these findings in true-to-life clinical settings,” said

Iain B. McInnes, FRCP, PhD - Professor of Experimental Medicine,

University of Glasgow, Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, Centre for

Rheumatic Diseases, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom,

and advisor to the development of the survey. “One interesting finding

of the survey revealed that the majority of rheumatologists sampled

believe that treatment outcomes may be improved by trying different

biologic agents when patients don't respond positively to initial

treatment.”

Other Key Findings:

-- Key treatment goals when initiating biologic therapy include:

retarding the progression of joint erosion (46 percent); improving the

rate of remission (44 percent); reducing pain and discomfort/pain

relief (41 percent); reducing joint inflammation/swelling (38 percent);

improving the patient's quality of life through improved physical

mobility (34 percent); overall efficacy (32 percent); fast onset of

action for symptom control (29 percent); improving synovitis (25

percent); and providing flexibility of dose (19 percent)

-- 19 percent of rheumatologists see patients with stable disease less

often than they would prefer; 30 percent prefer to see patients with

stable disease at least every 3 months and 22 percent actually see them

that often

-- 35 percent of rheumatologists see patients with active disease less

often than they would prefer; 44 percent prefer to see patients with

active disease at least once a month, but just 25 percent actually see

them that often.

Patient Survey Results

A separate survey of RA patients in Austria conducted by the

Oesterreichische Rheumaliga (OeRL), a national patient advocacy

organization, revealed, that despite significant treatment advances,

patients continue to experience a reduced quality of life. While 89

percent of the patients reported they were “very or somewhat satisfied”

with the results obtained from their current medication, a majority

also reported RA continues to affect their ability to enjoy leisure

life (85 percent) and ability to perform on the job (67 percent).

Further, 67 percent reported they were willing to switch to other

treatments if there was the possibility to achieve better results.

“Patients with RA should not settle for a life with pain and decreased

ability to enjoy daily activities,” said a Loisl, President

Oesterreichische Rheumaliga (OeRL). “Advances in treatment,

particularly with biologics, should raise our expectations for what we

should consider to be successful management of RA, and I encourage

patients to discuss ways to better manage their disease with their

physician.”

Other Key Findings

-- Almost 50 percent of RA patients have been diagnosed with the

disease 10 years or longer

-- 74 percent of patients have experienced their symptoms for up to two

years before diagnosis

-- 70 percent of RA patients on biologics rate their pain as much less

painful now compared to when the disease was first diagnosed

-- Of the patients who are being treated with biologics, 100 percent

are satisfied with their treatment (77 percent very satisfied; 23

percent somewhat satisfied)

-- Of the patients who are not being treated with biologics, 85 percent

are satisfied with their treatment (39 percent very satisfied; 46

percent somewhat satisfied)

About the Rheumatologists Survey

Interactive® interviewed a total of 522 rheumatologists in five

countries (U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain) beginning on April

18 and ending on May 9, 2005. To be included in the final survey, each

rheumatologist must review 10 or more rheumatoid arthritis patients in

an average month and must have been practicing medicine for a year or

more since completion of full time medical training.

About Corporation

Corporation is an international communications technology

company focused on providing assured communications™ products, systems

and services for government and commercial customers. The company's

four operating divisions serve markets for government communications,

tactical radio, broadcast, and microwave systems. provides

systems and service to customers in more than 150 countries. Additional

information about Corporation is available at

http://www.harris.com.

About the OeRL Patient Survey

Survey questionnaires were distributed to 500 members of the OeRL. Two

hundred and twelve members took part in the survey; from these

respondents, 182 patients had received a diagnosis of RA, thus meeting

criteria for inclusion in the survey.

About RA

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory

disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in

the joints. Symptoms of RA include inflammation of the joints,

swelling, difficulty moving, and pain. The most commonly affected

joints are the hands and feet. The joint pain of RA can impact a

patient's ability to perform normal daily activities, limit job

opportunities, and make family and household responsibilities a

challenge. RA afflicts more than 9.7 million people worldwide;

according to the World Health Organization, the incidence of RA in

Europe is expected to increase over the next decade as the population

ages.

About Schering-Plough

Schering-Plough is a global science-based health care company with

leading prescription, consumer and animal health products. Through

internal research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough

discovers, develops, manufactures and markets advanced drug therapies

to meet important medical needs. Schering-Plough's vision is to earn

the trust of the physicians, patients and customers served by its more

than 30,000 people around the world. The company is based in

Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is

http://http://www.schering-plough.com.