Released 21 November 2008

Syk kinase inhibitors 'benefit rheumatoid arthritis patients'

Syk kinase inhibitors show good outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients after 12 weeks, a new study in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism has suggested.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School, the University of California and the San Diego Arthritis Medical Centre treated 189 patients with active RA with R788, a Syk kinase inhibitor, an important molecule involved in helping B-cells to mature.

The study participants, who were already taking methotrexate, were given oral doses in an ascending manner twice a day for a period of three months.

It was found that doses of 100mg and 150mg showed significantly better results at week 12 compared to twice daily doses of 50mg or placebo.

"These results indicate that an inhibitor of Syk kinase produces significant clinical benefits at 12 weeks in a population of patients with active RA receiving methotrexate therapy," the researchers concluded.

"Syk kinase may be an important new therapeutic target in RA and related autoimmune conditions."

A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign said that the results of the trial looked promising, and may offer a future alternative to existing therapies.
ADNFCR-1096-ID-18889502-ADNFCR

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