The Unmet Need for TNF Therapy in Ankylosing Spondylitis
9/26/2005
The relatively new biologic medications (also known as TNF Inhibitors or anti-TNF medications) have shown great promise in treating ankylosing spondylitis and, in some people, have appeared to have slowed or halted the disease's progression. However, high costs, differing prescription criteria, and lack of insurance coverage have caused some patients to have difficulty getting a prescription for Enbrel, Remicade or Humira - the three biologics currently on the market.
A recent study was aimed at examining the criteria for prescribing the biologic medications, to see how many AS patients met the criteria, and to examine quality of life of people with AS who would, "potentially meet the criteria compared with those who would not."
After analyzing 246 responses from a mailed questionnaire, the researchers concluded that there is, "a large unmet need for effective therapy in AS, with almost two-thirds of patients meeting the proposed criteria for biologic therapy." You can read the study abstract by clicking here.
A Note on Biologic Medications
Both Enbrel and Remicade are approved by the FDA for treating ankylosing spondylitis, while Humira has been prescribed off-label. Patient assistance programs are available to those who are underinsured or uninsured. Please click here for more information on the biologics in our The Biologics: TNF-a Inhibitors section.