Better Inhibition Of Radiographic Progression In RA Patients

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 26 Jun 2006 - 20:00 PDT

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New data from the long-term extension of the AIM (Abatacept in Inadequate responders to Methotrexte) trial, announced today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, suggests the selective T-cell co-stimulation modulator abatacept sustains inhibition of radiographic progression over 2 years in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate.

Abatacept (a disease modifying agent which blocks the signal of blood that is necessary for T-cells to damage joints in arthritis) has previously demonstrated significant reductions in radiographic progression (a measure showing the extent of actual damage to joints) in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate (an antimetabolite drug which inhibits the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein) during the double-blind phase of the AIM trial1. As such the extension arm aimed to investigate long term impact.

433 vs. 219 patients were randomized and treated with abatacept vs. placebo, with 385 (88.9%) vs. 162 (74.0%) completing the double blind phase. 539 patients were treated with Abatacept in the long-term extension arm of the study.

Data shows that 2 years of abatacept treatment slowed progression of structural damage in RA patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate, with the effect seen at year 2 significantly better than those in year 1.

In patients treated with abatacept for 2 years, minimal radiographic progression was observed during the second year of treatment. Using a linear mixed model analysis to compare the slope of radiographic progression over the 2-year period, abatacept was found to be significantly better than 1 year of placebo followed by 1 year of abatacept. Radiographic progression in the abatacept group slowed during year 2 vs. year 1.

"The long term extension of the AIM study shows that 2 yrs of abatacept treatment slowed progression of structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients, potentially providing a valuable treatment option for those patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate" explained Harry K. Genant, study lead and Professor Emeritus, University of California San Francisco and Chairman Emeritus Synarc, San Francisco, United States. "It is especially interesting to note that the effect seen at year two was significantly better than that seen at year one, suggesting progressive improvement and sustained reduction of damage which could equate to increased patient quality of life measures such as mobility and independence" he continued.

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References

1. Genant et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64(Suppl III):56

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Abstract number: OP0015

About EULAR

* The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) is the organization which represents the patient, health professional and scientific societies of rheumatology of all the European nations.
* The aims of EULAR are to reduce the burden of rheumatic diseases on the individual and society and to improve the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal diseases. To this end, EULAR fosters excellence in education and research in the field of rheumatology. It promotes the translation of research advances into daily care and fights for the recognition of the needs of people with musculoskeletal diseases by the governing bodies in Europe.
* Diseases of bones and joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis cause disability in 4 - 5 % of the adult population and are predicted to rise as people live longer.
* As new treatments emerge and cellular mechanisms are discovered, the 7th Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Amsterdam (EULAR 2006) brings together more than 10,000 experts - scientists, clinicians, healthcare workers, pharmaceutical companies and patients - to share their knowledge in a global endeavour to challenge the pain and disability caused by musculo-skeletal disorders.
* To find out more information about the activities of EULAR, visit: http://www.eular.org/.

Contact: Mia Gannedahl
European League Against Rheumatism

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