Geographic Differences in Disability Due to AS

EnbrelÒ (etanercept) Is First Therapy Approved for Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis

REMICADEÒ (infliximab) Granted Priority FDA Review For Treatment of Crohn's Disease

Geographic Differences in Disability Due to AS

Maastricht, Netherlands -- A new report in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases shows large variations in work disability and sick leave due to AS in three European countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, France), demonstrating that the results of health economic studies cannot be generalized from one country to another.

Results: Based on a study of 209 patients in the three countries, AS patients living in the Netherlands were almost 4 times more likely to be work disabled, and had increased lengths of sick leave, as compared to sufferers in Belgium and France.

The Netherlands have a more favorable social security system, and even in the general population, work disability and sick leave are higher in the Netherlands than the aforementioned countries. The study shows that the impact of AS on work participation is not only influenced by disease and sociodemographic characteristics, but also by the country, which has important implications for generalizability of health economic analysis across countries.

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ENBRELÒ (etanercept) Is First Therapy Approved for Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis

Seattle, WA - Immunex Corporation and Wyeth Laboratories announced that the FDA has approved ENBRELÒ to help reduce the signs and symptoms of active arthritis in patients with psoriatric arthritis. Gail Zimmerman, President and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation, explains the particular importance ENBREL'sÒ approval in stating that "Current therapies for psoriatic arthritis have been borrowed from other diseases and do not work for everyone."

Results: The latest study on ENBREL'sÒ effectiveness showed that at six months, the proportions of patients achieving a 50% or 75% improvement in the amount and the severity of psoriatic plaque throughout the body were 47% and 23%, respectively, in the ENBRELÒ group, compared to 18% and 3%, respectively, in the placebo group. The drug can be used without methotrexate, or it can be used in combination with methotrexate in patients who do not respond adequately to methotrexate alone.

As the only TNF receptor on the market, the binding of ENBRELÒ to TNF renders the TNF biologically inactive. This results in significant reduction in inflammatory activity. See further information about ENBRELÒ, its benefits, and potential side effects by reading the press releases section on this site (www.spondylitis.org/press.asp).

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REMICADEÒ (infliximab) Granted Priority FDA Review for Treatment of Crohn's Disease

Malvern, Pa. - Centocor Inc. announced that REMICADEÒ has been designated for priority review by the FDA for inducing and maintaining remission in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's Disease (CD). Also known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, CD can be associated with arthritis, and is included in the family of diseases related to AS.

REMICADEÒ is currently approved for short-term use for reduction of signs and symptoms of CD in moderately to severely active CD patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. Refer to the press release on REMICADEÒ (located on this site at www.spondylitis.org/press.asp) to view potential side effects of the drug.

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