Looks like Abatabcept continues to get good results. It will be nice to have another option available (assuming it's approved).
Thu Jun 9, 2005 08:53 AM ET
NEW YORK, June 9 (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY.N: Quote, Profile, Research)
said on Thursday that a late-stage trial showed its experimental
rheumatoid arthritis drug abatacept slowed the progression of joint
damage in patients with the disease.
The results come from additional analysis of Phase III trial data that was released last October showing the drug met the main goal of the trial, which was to improve the signs and symptoms of the disease in patients who had failed certain other therapies.
< ="3" src="http://today.reuters.com/Stocks/CompanyNewsFactDisplay.aspx?symbol=BMY.N" border="0" align="left" border="0" height="536" scrolling="no" width="132"> The latest results, which showed a significant inhibition of joint damage, were presented at a conference in Europe. If approved, analysts expect the drug to generate sales of 0 million to more than billion.
Abatacept could be the first in a new class of drugs known as T-cell co-stimulation modulators, which slow the body's response to inflammation.
This is good news. The more medications they can find and approve the better off we'll all be.
It's been my experience that all of the medications lose their effects after a while. We all might need something else to fall back on eventually.
I'm having great success with Humira and MTX, but I have enough expereince to know not too get too comfortable with that. Things can change in a matter of days...even hours with this disease. I like knowing there's still a line of defense waiting for me when that time arrises for me.
Mark, how are things going with you on Humira? Dont' I remember you saying that you were going to start Humira as well as MTX? What's your results been so far?
I am now on Remicade and Mtx. The Humira lost it's effectiveness after about 1 year. So far I am having mixed results with the Remicade. When did you start Humira?I started on bi-weekly injections in December and about a month ago I started on weekly injections because the results were only lasting about 7 days. Seems to be going well with the weekly injections now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it last!!
Had you switched to weekly injections before it totally lost it's effectiveness?
Yes I was on bi-weekly for about 8 months. It worked well for me as well. Hope you get lasting results.But you didn't go to weekly?
wHAT CLASSIFICATION WILL IT BE IF YOU KNOW? NSAIDS, DMARDS, OR SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT?? THIS IS GREAT NEWS!! As Lovie said, it seems our meds don't continue to work forever and we have to change to new ones regularly. It's definatly a DMARD. It is a new class that will give those that don't respond to the anti-TNF drugs another option. So far it sounds great.