Centocor Ortho Biotech and FDA reminded prescribers of the risk of serious fungal infections associated with TNF-α blockers, this includes the newer Simponi (golimumab).
Category Archives: Rheumatology
TNF blockers and lymphoma: FDA adds boxed warning
FDA: TNF blockers increase the risk of lymphoma and other malignancies in children and adolescents. Drugs included: etanercept –Enbrel-, infliximab –Remicade- and adalimumab –HUMIRA-
Video lecture: Biologic therapies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
Dr. Chan explains how biologic therapy (mainly through monoclonal antibodies) is changing the present and future of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. He illustrates some examples of autoimmune diseases such as: multiple sclerosis, asthma, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with etanercept, and others.
Pregabalin (Lyrica) not approved for fibromyalgia by the EMEA
EMEA didn’t approve treatment of fibromyalgia as a new indication for pregabalin (Lyrica).The CHMP was concerned that the benefits of Lyrica in fibromyalgia had not been shown in either the short or the long term.
Rubefacients for acute and chronic pain. Podcast review by The Cochrane Collaboration
Andrew Moore, from the Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics at the University of Oxford, discusses the available evidence on the use of rubefacients for acute and chronic pain.
Mechanism of action, indications and adverse effects of: etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab
Etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab are TNF alpha blockers. Learn about TNF alpha in inflammation. Mechanism of action, therapeutic uses and adverse effects profile of these drugs.
Overview on monoclonal antibody therapy: PPT, images and videos
This post intends to be a brief and readable overview on what monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are and some examples of their clinical applications. The following slideshow is a clear and accurate introduction on the topic: (ignore the first slide error message and move to the second)
More evidence that bisphosphonates do not increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter
Bisphosphonates don’t increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, according to the study Oral Bisphosphonates and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter in Women: A Self-Controlled Case-Series Safety, published in PLoS One on March 2009. The authors used a self-control case series analysis to study nearly 400,000 women from the UK General Practice Research Database. They…
New 2009 NICE clinical guideline for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued in February 2009 an update of the rheumatoid arthritis guideline. Pharmacist Matt Robinson at his excellent “Prescribing advice for GP’s” commented the most relevant points of the guidance: This guideline recommends that treatment is started early during active disease in order to minimise damage…
Scottish Medicines Consortium accepted Adalimumab (Humira) for adolescents that do not respond to other DMARDs
An excerpt from the Drug Advice issued by the Scottish Medicines Consortium on adalimumab (Humira): adalimumab (Humira) is accepted for restricted use in NHS Scotland, in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in adolescents aged 13-17 years who have an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs…
Flash cards on musculoskeletal system drugs: NSAIDS, DMARDS, and anti-gout agents
Free download University of Utah flash cards : Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, NAIDs),Drugs for the treatment of rheumathoid arthritis: DMARDs
Cochrane review: Anakinra (Kineret) for reumathoid arthritis has modest efficacy
A recent Cochrane review about the use of anakinra (Kineret) for reumathoid arthritis, concludes that it is a “modestly efficacious biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis”. Authors’ conclusions Anakinra is a relatively safe and modestly efficacious biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Although head to head comparison trials have not been carried out, the amount of improvement…
Febuxostat (Adenuric, Ipsen) for the management of hyperuricemia in gout patients. NICE guidance
The following is an excerpt of the NICE guidance about: Febuxostat for the management of hyperuricaemia in people with gout. 1 Guidance 1.1 Febuxostat, within its marketing authorisation, is recommended as an option for the management of chronic hyperuricaemia in gout only for people who are intolerant of allopurinol (as defined in section 1.2) or…
Efalizumab (Raptiva) and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). New safety information
This is duplicated text of a letter from EMD Serono Canada Inc to health care professionals, available at Health Canada . Dear Health Care Professional, EMD Serono Canada Inc., in collaboration with Health Canada, would like to inform you of important new safety information regarding the risk of serious infections, including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML),…
