arc welcomes positive results from RA drug trial
Encouraging results from the latest clinical trials of a new rheumatoid arthritis drug has prompted a leading arc scientist to talk of a "revolution" in treatment of the condition.
According to phase II trial results of rituximab, announced by Professor Jo Edwards at University College, London, more than half of RA patients showed "major improvements", and a further 23 per cent demonstrated a "brilliant response" after taking the drug in combination with methotrexate.
arc scientific secretary Dr Madeleine Devey said: "This is the most exciting time in arthritis research in 50 years. There is no doubt that a revolution is taking place in rheumatoid arthritis research, with anti-TNF therapy becoming available, and now rituximab showing such promise."
Professor Edward's latest results come exactly two years after positive results of a small clinical trial of 20 patients on rituximab prompted him to talk about a future potential or possible cure.
The latest results are based on the first 122 patients out of a total of 161 patients recruited to the study who had not responded well to other treatments. The study was conducted at centres in Europe, Israel, and Canada, and funded by the drug company Roche.
Phase III trials will now have to be conducted before the drug company can apply for a licence, which could take up to three years.
Rituximab works by knocking out the body's B-cells (white blood cells that defend the body against viruses and bacteria by making antibodies) thus breaking the chain of action that leads to inflammation in RA. Removing B-cells from the blood helps to eliminate the inflammatory processes at the source.
Professor Edwards likens removing B-cells rebooting a computer to get rid of a bug. "Rituximab re-boots part of your immune system, and when you switch it back on, the bug is gone."
Fergus Logan, arc chief executive said: "This is a very exciting time in rheumatoid arthritis research. The interim results of the Phase II study of rituximab look extremely positive, and are very, very encouraging for patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, although we're talking about remission here rather than a 'cure.'
"Most but not all patients who were given two infusions of rituximab with methotrexate were in remission after six months. But it is still unclear how long the remission lasts.
"According to this Phase II data, more than 20 per cent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis found that their symptoms improved by 70 per cent. This is a little better than the improvement in symptoms in patients taking the new anti-TNF therapies, infliximab and etanercept, so is obviously significant.
"As a future treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis, rituximab looks promising. The results of larger phase III trials over a longer period of time will undoubtedly answer some of our concerns."
Unlike the anti-TNF therapies infliximab and etanercept, rituximab needs to be given to patients only twice, two weeks apart, and is not an ongoing therapy.
arc has also published a fact sheet about: rituximab which is available here.
