New biologic drug Abatacept effective against rheumatoid arthritis
Posted on 15. Nov, 2009 by admin in Health
According to Canadian researchers new biologic drug Abatacept works well for rheumatoid arthritis.
The researchers have made a detailed study involving a sample of 2,908 patients and conducted 7 trials of a Cochrane Systematic Review. They have found that in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis patients and administered Abatacept had twice the likelihood to achieve about 50% improvement in their symtoms that include pain as well as number of tender and the swollen joints.
However, they found that the drug should be used singly and not in combination with any other biologic drugs.
According to study leader, Lara Maxwell from Insitute of Population Health, Univeristy of Ottawa, Ontario, Abatacept although costs high it is effective and can be recommended to those rheumatoid arthritis patients who failed on other treatment modalities.
Lara Maxwell further recommends followup studies on long-term usage and effectiveness of Abatacept. The findings of Lara Maxwell et al., study are published in Cochrane Library.
