Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug OK'd

[Guest guest]

This is from the Houston Chronicle today:

" WASHINGTON - The government has approved sale of a new drug for rheumatoid

arthritis that works like two older competitors - but may prove easier to take.

Abbott Laboratories' Humira works by blocking an immune system protein called

tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, that is responsible for much of the pain and

inflmmation of rheumatoid arthritis.

It requires patients to give themselves one shot every two weeks.

Two other TNF blockers, Enbrel and Remicade, have long been sold. Enbrel

requires two shots a week, and is so difficult to manufacture that it's often in

short supply. Remicade requires an infusion in a doctor's office.

All three drugs have similar side effects, including serious, sometimes fatal,

infections thought to be linked to the suppression of the immune protein.

About 2 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system

goes awry and destroys patients' joints. "

I wonder how it will work with PA?

J