Drug has arthritis victims clapping

July 22, 2002

Drug has arthritis victims clapping Jun. 27, 2002

Provided by: Sun Media

Written by: PATRICK MALONEY

TORONTO -- Fate dealt Karakasis a cruel hand 10 years ago when she

developed rheumatic arthritis in her finger and wrist joints.

For the past five years, the illness has made life " hell " for the

Scarborough hairdresser. Work, along with simple tasks such as brushing her

teeth and turning a faucet, became nearly impossible because of the pain.

Last September she began a trial with Kineret, a new treatment that stopped

the pain almost immediately.

'MIRACLE'

" For me it was like a miracle drug, " she said yesterday after The Arthritis

Society announced the federal government's approval of the new treatment.

" I've tried a lot of stuff. Nothing really worked, " an emotional Karakasis

said. " Kineret has brought back my life. "

Rheumatoid arthritis differs from other forms of the ailment in that it can

affect the entire immune system.

Canada's 300,000 sufferers produce excess proteins that can cause joint

damage and inflammation, but a daily self-injection of Kineret is designed

to mimic the body's natural way of blocking those proteins from swelling and

destroying joints.

TESTED ON CANADIANS

Kineret was designed by California pharmaceutical company Amgen Inc. After

being tested on some 2,600 people -- including 400 Canadians -- during the

past two years, the treatment received federal approval in May. The drug,

which costs $15,000 a year, won't be available to the public until it

receives provincial approval.

" Now your doctor can finally say, I've got something to give my patients, "

said Denis Morrice, the president of the Arthritis Society. " For many

patients, it's changing their lives. "

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