Millions Who Suffer From Rheumatoid Arthritis 1* Treatment Approved To Inhibit The Progression Of Joint Damage @ (NAPSA)—Battling rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for the past 35 years REMICADE (infliximab) to his methotrexate. Soon after the first busy business executive Michael Trachtenberg. During disease flareups, Michael’s mobility became so limited thatit affected his professional career. At times, he was unable to use public transportation to commute to work, and he found traveling to improvementin his condition. “Relief from the pain andstiffness has helped has been a constant challenge for distant locations for his job nearly impossible. Even the simple act of climbing a staircase in his office building was extremely difficult. That’s because RA, which affects over 2 million Americans,is an oftendevastating disease that causes pain, stiffness and progressive joint damage. “My RA moved to my neck, hips and most of my joints,” said Mike. “T had severe swelling in my knees and couldn’t walk without a cane, even after years of taking a variety of arthritis medications.” Unlike osteoarthritis (OA), which is the result of wear and tear on the joints, RA is an autoimmunedisorder that causes the immune system— dose, Mike saw a_ dramatic a great deal,” he said. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted REMICADE marketing approval for use with methotrexate as thefirst drug to inhibit the progression of joint damagein patients with moderately to severely active RA. Originally approved for RA by the FDA on November 10, 1999 for treating the pain andstiffness of the disease, REMICADE has now shown dramatic results by inhibiting the progression ofjoint damageassociated with the disease as well. “Although individual results may vary, for the first time we now have a drug that, when used in combination with methotrexate, can actually inhibit the progression ofjoint damage, as well as control the pain andstiffness commonly associated with this disease,” said Michael Spiegel, M.D., a REMICADEclinical trial investigator that normally protects against disease—to attack the joints, creating inflammation and destroyingtissue. based in Danbury, CT. “This is progress to cause severe deformation of the joints and complete immobility. antibodies. REMICADE works by neutralizing the activity of a key womenare three times aslikely to get the disease than men. RA typically strikes between ages 20 and 45. As Mike’s RA progressed, called TNF-alpha. REMICADE’s potent ability to target TNF-alpha may be the key to inhibiting the disease. In some patients, the disease may While RA can be hereditary, daily activities such as tying shoelaces or taking a walk required incredible effort. After being treated with methotrexate for a long period of time, it wasnolongereffective for Mike. The good newsis that Mike’s doctor added a prescription treatment called excellent newsfor patients.” REMICADEbelongsto a class of drugs known as monoclonal substance that causes inflammation, If you think thatyou, a friend or family member might have RA, ask your physician about available treatments or to recommend a rheumatologist. For more information on REMICADE, talk to your doctor. For full prescribing information for REMICADEvisit www.remicade.com, or call 1-888-564-9169. About REMICADE REMICADE is not for everyone. It’s for people already taking methotrexate who are not responding well. There are reports of serious infections, including sepsis and tuberculosis, that may be life-threatening. So, if you are prone to or have a history of infections, currently have one, or develop one while taking REMICADE,tell your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor before beginning treatment if you have had recent close contact with, or if you have had past exposure to people with tuberculosis, or if you have any other reason to believe you maybe atrisk. There are also reports of serious infusion reactions with hives, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. If you have a de-myelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis, tell your doctor before you are treated. In rare cases, people with de-myelinating disease who were treated with Remicade have seen their symptomsintensify. In clinical studies, some people experienced the following commonside effects: upper respiratory infections, headache, cough, sinusitis or mild reac- tions to the infusion such asrashor itchy skin.