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news.Results from a phase II rheumatoid arthritis study assessing the safety and efficacy of Centocor and Schering-Plough's drug, golimumab, showed that it significantly improved symptoms in a majority of patients.
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In this dose-ranging trial, more than 60% of patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with golimumab and methotrexate experienced at least 20% improvement in arthritis symptoms at week 16. Additionally, one-quarter of patients receiving golimumab and MTX achieved remission as evaluated by Disease Activity Score 28.
“When treating a debilitating disease like RA, it is important to have several treatment options, and we are encouraged by the safety and efficacy data we have seen thus far for golimumab,” said Dr Jonathan Kay, director, Clinical Trials, Rheumatology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, and lead study investigator.
Golimumab is a fully-human anti-TNF-alpha IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets and neutralizes both the soluble and the membrane-bound form of TNF-alpha. The drug is currently being investigated for administration by either subcutaneous injection or intravenous infusion.