RESEARCH - Golimumab effective for psoriatic arthritis

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Golimumab Effective for Psoriatic Arthritis

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 15 - Golimumab, a human monoclonal

antibody against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha administered

subcutaneously, is effective in treating psoriatic arthritis and its

associated skin and nail lesions, according to a report in the April

issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

In an earlier phase 2 trial, golimumab benefited rheumatoid arthritis

patients within 2 weeks of administration of the first dose, the

authors explain.

Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh from the University of California, San Diego in

La Jolla, and colleagues investigated the efficacy and safety of

subcutaneous golimumab injections (50 mg or 100 mg) versus placebo on

weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 in the treatment of 405 psoriatic

arthritis patients.

By week 14, nearly half the patients (48%) in the combined golimumab

group (50-mg and 100-mg doses) achieved the American College of

Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20), the authors report,

compared with only 9% of patients in the placebo group.

At week 24, 52% of patients in the golimumab 50-mg group and 61% of

patients in the golimumab 100-mg group achieved an ACR20 response,

compared with 12% of patients in the placebo group.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/591117

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