Re: Re: When drugs stop working

May 19, 2005

Here is a part of an article as well as the link that it came from.

The last paragraph sounds like the trial drug I am on. Unfortunately

I can't tell yet if it will work for me. It only works for 70% of

patients and there is also a 25% chance it's a placebo. I think it

isn't because I took 2 doses very close together and became itchy and

developed a short term rash. It's not so easy with a chronic disease

to detect a small improvement.

Annette

New Developments in RA

One area of interest is developing new ways to remove or decrease the

relatively high levels of TNF, IL-1 and other types of interleukin

found in inflamed joints.

One drug close to being evaluated for release, for example, blocks the

ability of targeted cells to communicate with one another. This signal

interference stops the release of hormones that excite cells, which,

in turn, release chemicals that destroy tissue.

As well, an existing drug may offer significant advantages in the

treatment of RA. Rituxan has been used against lymphoma (cancer of the

lymphatic system) in more than 400,000 patients worldwide. In the past

year researchers have discovered that for about 70 per cent of RA

patients, two injections given two weeks apart provide good relief for

at least a year.

And finally, several types of selective small molecule inhibitors are

being developed, which, if successful, may do away with injections and

infusions altogether. In their place? A pill, to be taken at

breakfast. To quote Keystone: " It's a great time to be a

rheumatologist; it's an even better time to be a patient. "

Here's the link for this

ews=3851 & idSm=318

On 5/16/05, <catdelouise@...> wrote:

> Yes, Harold, you are right! Because of my job, I know of a Rheumatologist

> who works in the pharmaceutical industry and he told me they are doing

> clinical trials on a new drug that works like the TNF blockers but blocks

> something else. I forget what, it is a long name, but there are other

> things in

> the body besides TNF that cause inflammation and this new drug works on

> this. It should be a good drug for people who are not helped by Enbrel,

> Humira, etc.

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