New Juvenile Arthritis Studies Reaffirm Safety And Effectiveness Of Two Drugs

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 11 Nov 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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Two studies released reaffirmed TNF inhibitors, biologic agents often used to treat adults with rheumatoid arthritis, are safe and effective treatments for children with juvenile arthritis (JA). The two drugs, adalimumab and etanercept, were studied separately. One study focused solely on the effectiveness of adalimumab in children and the other focused on the safety of etanercept when used to treat children.

Both studies highlighted promising results. A 48-week trial revealed that 56 percent of children taking adalimumab experienced a 70 percent improvement in signs and symptoms. The second study found that etanercept maintained a good safety and efficacy profile up to eight years and that at the end of seven years, 29 percent of children studied achieved complete remission.

"This research offers new hope for the 300,000 children across the country who experience severe arthritis pain that can significantly impact their quality of life," said John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "Because of the lack of pediatric rheumatologists, research in this field is critical. The Arthritis Foundation is committed to addressing the problem of the severe shortage of pediatric rheumatologists in this country so that more children with juvenile arthritis can benefit from these new treatment advances."

Juvenile Arthritis is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, yet it often goes undetected or misdiagnosed. If left untreated, irreversible joint damage may occur. Compounding the problem is the critical need for pediatric rheumatologists who are trained to diagnose and treat children and youth with arthritis.

Every year, the Arthritis Foundation hosts a nationwide Juvenile Arthritis conference. Kids and families with juvenile arthritis, pediatric rheumatologists and other healthcare providers, and arthritis researchers gather for various sessions designed to give up-to-date, valuable information about treatments for this serious disease and support to help overcome the obstacles for all those affected by juvenile arthritis. For more information about Juvenile Arthritis and current research, visit http://www.arthritis.org.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation's most common cause of disability. Founded in 1948, with headquarters in Atlanta, the Arthritis Foundation has multiple service points located throughout the country.

The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world, funding more than $380 million in research grants since 1948. The foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

http://www.arthritis.org

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