A recent small-scale study examined the efficacy of pregabalin in the treatment of neuropathic pain caused by sciatica, as well as its associated low back pain. Researchers found the treatment did not reduce leg pain better than placebo and resulted in more adverse events…
Some cancer patients taking immune checkpoint inhibitors experience immune-related adverse events. Laura C. Cappelli, MD, MHS, says rheumatologists are natural partners with oncologists to treat this patient population…
On April 7, 2017, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) published its final report, titled, Targeted Immune Modulators for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effectiveness & Value.1 The stated objective of the report was to assess the comparative clinical effectiveness of the targeted immune modulators (TIMs) used to treat patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid…
Disease outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have improved dramatically since the introduction of biologic agents and improved treatment strategies. Nevertheless, the majority of patients still require prolonged, if not lifelong, therapy. Therefore, the ultimate goal would be to prevent RA. This study analyzed the effect of a one-year course of methotrexate in high-risk UA patients (studied in a previous trial) after post-randomization exclusion of patients without a high risk of developing RA…
A new formulation of oxycodone in 10 and 15 mg doses is being reviewed by the FDA for treating pain…
The FDA has declined to approve baricitinib to treat rheumatoid arthritis, citing the need for more data on dosing and safety…
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday struggled over whether to speed up the time it takes to bring to the market copycat versions of biologic drugs, expensive medicines that can generate billions of dollars in sales for drug makers. The nine justices heard arguments in an appeal by Novartis AG of a lower court…
(Reuters)—A European Medicines Agency panel said on Friday it recommended granting marketing approval to Sanofi and Regeneron’s experimental drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use gave a positive opinion on the drug, sarilumab (Kevzara), citing its ability to reduce the signs and symptoms of RA. Sarilumab, the active…
(Reuters)—Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. said it had priced its recently approved plaque psoriasis treatment at $3,500 per month, ahead of an expected U.S. launch in the second half of 2017. Brodalumab (Siliq) is the lowest priced injectable biologic psoriasis treatment currently on the market, Valeant says. Drugmakers are facing intense criticism from…
NKTR-181, a mu-opioid agonist analgesic, has proved safe and effective for treating chronic low back pain vs. placebo in a recent clinical trial…