Study: Remicade Plus Methotrexate Effective in Early Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The combined therapy of Remicade® plus methotrexate is effective in treating the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study presented June 19 at the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism in Lisbon, Portugal.

The study involved 1,049 patients enrolled in 125 centers in North America and Europe who had rheumatoid arthritis for an average of only seven months. More than 80 percent had evidence of erosive joint destruction.

Researchers reported that this drug combination worked better than methotrexate alone in stopping the progression of joint destruction, reducing disability and increasing clinical improvement in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Remicade (inflixmab) is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets and binds to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), whose overproduction is believed to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis.

Remicade is currently approved for use in patients who have had an inadequate response to methotrexate alone. Based on results of this study, Centocor, which makes Remicade, plans to seek U.S. regulatory approval for the combined therapy to be used in patients who have not previously demonstrated an inadequate response to methotrexate therapy.

Co-researcher Dr. E. William St. Clair, of Duke University Medical Center, said the findings have the potential to change the way rheumatologists treat patients with early disease.

"The early treatment benefit seen among these patients provides further evidence that aggressive therapy at the beginning of the disease is an effective strategy to prevent the progression of joint damage," he said.

Other sources: Centocor