Abatacept Shows Promise Against RA

A study has shown that abatacept, an alternative drug for rheumatoid arthritis, may help reduce symptoms in patients who don't respond to standard treatments. The study's results were published in the June 2006 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, and the study was conducted by a team of RA experts lead by Joel M. Kremer.

Abatacept was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and is the first of a new class of agents called selective T-cell co-stimulation modulators. T-cell co-stimulation modulators reduce T-cell proliferation and other markers of inflammation, including the production of rheumatoid factor by B cells.

The study, which took place over a year and was phase III, was comprised of 652 patients. These patients were prescribed an older medication, methotrexate, along with either abatacept or a placebo. All of the patients had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for at least nine years and had not responded well to methotrexate alone prior to the trial.

Although the patients also taking abatacept did experience a higher rate of infection, approximately 2.5 percent compared to 0.9 percent in those taking methotrexate with the placebo, the new drug did appear to improve mobility and decrease joint damage caused by the disease.

The team concluded that abatacept statistically significantly reduced disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to methotrexate. The team suggested that longer treatment in different patient populations is needed to establish its appropriate role in rheumatoid arthritis. A limitation of this study was cited as small group size and small period of observation (one year).

Article References
New Drugs for RA Shows Promise, site accessed on 6/20/2006

Effects of Abatacept in Patients with Methotrexate-Resistant Active Rheumatoid Arthritis, site accessed on 6/20/06