Study: Varying Doses of Enbrel Effective and Safe for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Enbrel® (etanercept) can be administered safely and effectively for rheumatoid arthritis in either a strong dose once weekly or weaker doses twice a week, according to a study reported in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Researchers from Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto studied 420 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received two different strengths of the drug -- either 25 milligrams twice weekly or 50 milligrams once weekly.

The researchers measured the effectiveness and safety of the doses during the eighth and sixteenth week of treatment.

A 20 percent improvement was achieved during the eighth week of treatment by 50% of the patients receiving 50 milligrams of etanercept once weekly and by 49% of the patients receiving 25 milligrams of etanercept twice weekly.

A 50 percent improvement was attained by 18% of patients in each of the two etanercept groups. No significant differences in safety were observed between the two groups.

The researchers concluded that comparable clinical outcomes are to be expected when patients are treated with etanercept administered either as 50 millgrams once weekly or as 25 millgrams twice weekly.

Other sources; Arthritis & Rheumatism 2004 Feb;50(2):353-63