Injections of methotrexate were not superior to oral therapy in long-term treatment of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, according to a new study, published in the May 30 online edition of Arthritis Care & Research.
Injections of methotrexate were not superior to oral therapy in long-term treatment of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), according to a new study, published in the May 30 online edition of Arthritis Care & Research.
In the retrospective study, led by Araine Klein with Asklepios Klinik Sankt Augustin, in Germany, researchers reviewed 411 patients with JIA who received methotrexate (MTX) for at least 6 months. Patients in both the oral therapy and subcutaneous groups showed a high clinical response (73% for oral vs 72% for injection). In addition, 22% of patients who received oral MTX had at least 1 adverse event, compared to 27% in the subcutaneous group.
However, significantly more patients with subcutaneous application discontinued MTX because of adverse events (11%) compared to oral (5%).
“In this retrospective analysis, parenteral MTX was not superior to oral administration, regarding efficacy and tolerability,” the researchers wrote.
Payers Recognize the Benefits, but Still See Weight Loss Drugs through a Cost Lens
April 12th 2024Jeffrey Casberg, M.S., R.Ph., a senior vice president of clinical pharmacy at IPD Analytics LLC, a drug intelligence firm that advises payers and pharmaceutical companies, talks about how payers are thinking about weight-loss drugs.