Cimzia Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

[Guest guest]

Cimzia Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

THURSDAY, May 14 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Cimzia

(certolizumab pegol) to treat moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, Belgian

drug maker UCB said Thursday in a news release.

The injected drug was approved in April 2008 to treat the inflammatory bowel

disorder Crohn's disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in

the joints, the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and

Skin Diseases says. It can affect any joint, but is most common in the wrist and

fingers.

Cimzia can have side effects including headache, upper respiratory infection,

abdominal pain, nausea and injection site reactions.

More information

The FDA has more about this drug's approval history.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Cimzia can also give lymphomas as well as other problems existing with all

biologic DMARDS. Thanks for your info though

Arshad

From: Mimi <mimi212@...>

Subject: [ ] Cimzia Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Date: Friday, May 15, 2009, 5:19 AM

Cimzia Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

THURSDAY, May 14 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Cimzia

(certolizumab pegol) to treat moderate-to- severe rheumatoid arthritis, Belgian

drug maker UCB said Thursday in a news release.

The injected drug was approved in April 2008 to treat the inflammatory bowel

disorder Crohn's disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in

the joints, the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and

Skin Diseases says. It can affect any joint, but is most common in the wrist and

fingers.

Cimzia can have side effects including headache, upper respiratory infection,

abdominal pain, nausea and injection site reactions.

More information

The FDA has more about this drug's approval history.

[Guest guest]

Hi Arshad - all DMARDS and Biologics carry similar risks. All medications on the

market carry their own risks and benefits as well. It is important to remember

that the manufacturers are required to report any and all side effects that a

particular medication may carry - even the most remote of possibilities. That

does not mean that we will definitely contract a lymphoma if we take a

particular medication - it just means the risk is there. Sometimes the risks

outweigh the benefits.

This was just an article that I received via email and I thought I'd share.

There are many people out there who have run out of options to help control

their RA. This represents just another option that has recently been approved.

Wishing everyone a beautiful and pain free day.....Doreen

>

> From: Mimi <mimi212@...>

> Subject: [ ] Cimzia Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

>

> Date: Friday, May 15, 2009, 5:19 AM

>

> Cimzia Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

>

> THURSDAY, May 14 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has

> approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) to treat moderate-to- severe

> rheumatoid arthritis, Belgian drug maker UCB said Thursday in a

> news release.

>

> The injected drug was approved in April 2008 to treat the

> inflammatory bowel disorder Crohn's disease.

>

> Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of

> function in the joints, the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis

> and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says. It can affect any

> joint, but is most common in the wrist and fingers.

>

> Cimzia can have side effects including headache, upper respiratory

> infection, abdominal pain, nausea and injection site reactions.

>

> The FDA has more about this drug's approval history.

[Guest guest]

- I agree. It was just that Arshad said that Cimzia and " all biologic

DMARDS " can cause lymphoma. I was just trying to clarify for him.....Doreen

>

> Doreen,

>

> Some researchers have concluded that people with RA have a greater

> risk of developing lymphoma because of the disease itself, not

> because of the medications/biologics which are used to treat it. It

> may be that uncontrolled, severe inflammation is linked with

> lymphoma risk.

>

>

>

> Not an MD