Selective B Cell Therapy Inhibits Joint Damage in RA
Data from a team of international investigators, presented at the 7th Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Amsterdam (EULAR 2006), provide the first evidence that MabThera® (rituximab), a selective B cell targeted therapy, can prevent structural damage of joints in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In patients with RA, joint destruction ultimately results in deformity and disability. Therefore, preventing structural damage is a critical outcome in treating RA.
X-ray data from the Phase III REFLEX study (Randomized Evaluation oF Long-term Efficacy of rituXimab in RA) showed that in patients who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, MabThera, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), reduced progression of joint damage by more than 50% at 56 weeks, compared with patients receiving MTX alone (mean change in erosion scores 0.59 vs. 1.32; mean change in joint space narrowing 0.41 vs. 0.99 and total Genant-modified Sharp scores of 1 and 2.31 respectively).1
For further details of the REFLEX data presented at EULAR, please click here.
Reference
1. Keystone E, Emery P, Peterfy CD, et al. Prevention of joint structural damage at 1 year with rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate response to one or more TNF inhibitors (REFLEX study). Abstract, EULAR 2006.