Newer Therapies Can Relieve Suffering For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients @ (NAPSA)—A leading medical journal, The Lancet, recently published an article showing that newer treatments can relieve suf- or moretraditional treatments.” lion Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The article reported that three biologic treatments for RA—a debilitating disease that occurs when the immune system inappropriately attacks joint tissue—can reduce symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, stiffness and pain. Many RA patients don’t respond adequately to biologic therapies such as anti-TNF drugs. The article reviewed studies for three drugs: Rituxan (rituximab) and Orencia (abatacept), two biologic therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe RA. The authors also reviewed data on tocilizumab, an agent that is not yet approved for RA. All three drugs were found to diminish Mary Boudreau of Lawrenceburg, Indiana tried many RA treatments before she began fering for the more than two mil- signs and symptomsof RA. “This research expands the range of treatments to fight RA,” said Professor Josef Smolen, Division of Rheumatology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. “Tt showsthere are more optionsfor RA patients thanfirst-line therapy, In clinical studies, Rituxan reduced RA symptomsbyat least 20 percent in more than half of patients. receiving Rituxan. “I was vocal—I kept asking my doctorto try other treatments,” said Boudreau. Rituxan is the only approvedbiologic therapy that selectively targets CD20-positive B-cells. It has been used for more than 10 years in all approved indications, and has more than one million patient exposures when combined with its experience in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Rituxan has been approved for the treatment of RA since 2006. There is no cure for RA. Treatment is focused on reducing pain and inflammation with medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Rituxan is approved in combination with methotrexate to reduce signs and symptoms in adult patients with moderately-toseverely active RA who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumornecrosis factor antag- onist therapies. With two infu- sions, Rituxan may provideefficacy that lasts through six months in patients with persistent, active disease despite anti-TNF therapy. Rituxan has an established safety profile. Rituxan can cause the following serious side effects, some of which could be life-threatening: infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome, severe skin reactions and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Other serious side effects with Rituxan include hepatitis B virus reactivation, heart problems, infections and stomach and bowel problems. Commonside effects with Rituxan include fever, chills, shakes, itching, hives, sneezing, swelling, throat irritation or tightness and cough. These usually occur within 24 hours after the first infusion. Other commonside effects include headache, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection and aching joints. If you suffer from pain and other symptomsassociated with RA, speak to your doctor if your treatmentis not providingrelief. Learn More For more information on RA, or a copy of the Rituxan full prescrib- ing information, including BOXED WARNINGS, call (877) 474-8892 or visit www.rituxan.com.
