Sirukumab – new drug shows promise for rheumatoid arthritis

A new therapy option for people with rheumatoid arthritis has had good results in a trial, says research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

The study assessed the safety and efficacy of sirukumab in people who hadn’t responded well to methotrexate.

A total of 36 people were given sirukumab or a sham treatment every two weeks for 10 weeks. In weeks 12 to 22 there was crossover treatment.

Then 151 people were given sirukumab for 24 weeks or a placebo for 10 weeks before changing to sirukumab for the rest of the study period.

Results showed that 26.7% of people given sirukumab met the study’s primary response rate goal (improvement in swollen or tender joints, pain and disability). Only 3.3% of people in the control group achieved this.

Greater improvements in disease activity levels were seen at week 12 with sirukumab in both aspects of the trial. Negative side effects were similar for both groups, underlining the safety of the drug.

“Sirukumab-treated patients experienced improvements in the signs/symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis,” the researchers say. “Safety results through 38 weeks were consistent with other IL-6 inhibitors.”

Sirukumab is not yet approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis; the next step is a larger trial involving more people.

To read the original research click here.