(Reuters)—On April 27, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi SA said on Monday that their arthritis drug sarilumab (Kevzara) may only help the sickest patients with COVID-19, dampening hopes that the therapy could potentially reach a larger pool of patients with the disease. The drugmakers said they would test high doses of sarilumab only in critically…
New Processes May Stick Around After the Pandemic: Q&A with Wendy Ramey, BSPharm, RPh, CSP
How are COVID-19 and physical distancing restrictions at work affecting rheumatology professionals? The Rheumatologist interviewed clinical pharmacist Wendy Ramey, BSPharm, RPh, CSP, to discuss how the pandemic has changed the way her staff supports rheumatologists at the University of Kentucky Specialty Pharmacy and Infusion Services, Lexington. Ms. Ramey describes how these unprecedented times affect patients,…
Data on Arthritis Drug to Treat Coronavirus Could Come within Weeks
(Reuters)—Initial data from clinical trials testing whether patients with severe coronavirus illness can be helped by a rheumatoid arthritis drug sold by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi SA may come as early as next week, Regeneron’s chief scientific officer told Reuters. “We could be one to two weeks—at most a month or so—away from knowing…
Sanofi, Regeneron Expand Testing of Potential Coronavirus Treatment
(Reuters)—Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. have expanded a clinical trial of their rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara (sarilumab) as a coronavirus treatment to patients outside the U.S. The companies said enrolments for the mid-to-late stage trial of sarilumab, an immune-system modifying drug known as a monoclonal antibody, have now started in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Canada…
Sarilumab Investigated to Treat COVID-19
A study investigating sarilumab’s effects on patients with COVID-19 has begun in New York. The treatment blocks IL-6, which may play a role in the respiratory distress caused by the virus…
Sanofi, Regeneron Begin Testing Arthritis Drug as Coronavirus Treatment
(Reuters)—Sanofi SA and partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. have started a clinical trial of their rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara (sarilumab) as a treatment for the coronavirus, the companies said on Monday. Enrolments for the mid-to-late stage trial will begin immediately, and the companies anticipate the trial will test up to 400 patients. Sarilumab is an infection-fighting…
Otilimab Begins Phase 3 Clinical Studies for RA
In a four-part clinical trial program, researchers are assessing the safety and efficacy of otilimab with placebo in RA patients, along side conventional treatments, such as tofacitinib, and DMARDs…
Rheumatology Drugs at a Glance, Part 3: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Over the past few years, biosimilars and other new drugs have been introduced to treat rheumatic illnesses. Some of the conditions we treat have numerous drug options, others have few or only off-label options. This series, “Rheumatology Drugs at a Glance,” provides streamlined information on the administration of biologic, biosimilar and small molecule inhibitor drugs…
Can IL-6 Predict Sarilumab Response?
Recent post-hoc analyses of two Phase 3 clinical trials show that RA patients with high interleukin 6 levels taking sarilumab experienced improved symptoms and less joint damage than those using other treatments…
The FDA Approved Several New Rheumatology Drugs in 2017
SAN DIEGO—In a session at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, Kam Nola, PharmD, MS, professor in the College of Pharmacy and vice chair in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., updated participants on new medications and new indications for rheumatology treatments and safety labeling changes approved by the U.S. Food…