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AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RHEUMATOLOGY: Tocilizumab responses durable to 2 years in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
In patients with severe, refractory, persistent systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), long-term treatment with tocilizumab induces significant, durable responses with acceptable toxicity, according to results from a multicenter phase 3 trial presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, Chicago.
In patients with severe, refractory, persistent systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), long-term treatment with tocilizumab induces significant, durable responses with acceptable toxicity, according to results from a multicenter phase 3 trial presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, Chicago.
Two-year results from the ongoing 5-year study were presented by Fabrizio De Benedetti, MD, from IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu in Rome.
In the trial, 112 children aged 2 to 17 years old with disease activity for at least 6 months were randomly assigned to receive placebo or tocilizumab, with dosage based on body weight. Tocilizumab was given intravenously every 2 weeks at doses of 12 mg/kg for children with a body weight <30 kg or 8 mg/kg for children ≥30 kg. Concomitant stable doses of methotrexate, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids were permitted. Most children presented with very active disease.
Sixty-one patients received at least 104 weeks of tocilizumab treatment. Among these patients, more than 60% achieved a JIA ACR90 response, 88% achieved a JIA ACR70 response, and 60% were able to discontinue oral corticosteroids by week 104. The rate of serious infections was 22 per 100 person-years and the overall rate of serious adverse events remotely, possibly, or probably due to tocilizumab was 15 per 100 person-years.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
