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Content Update
August 19, 2019
Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) Approved for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: In August 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved upadacitinib as the third oral janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Upadacitinib 15 mg orally once daily is indicated for adults with moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis who are intolerant or not responding adequately to methotrexate. It may be used alone or in combination with methotrexate or other nonbiologic DMARDs. It should not be used with other JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib), biologic DMARDs, or other potent immunosuppressives (eg, azathioprine, cyclosporine).
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Content Update
June 18, 2018
Baricitinib (Olumiant) Approved for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: In June 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved baricitinib as the second janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Baricitinib is indicated for adults with moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to at least one tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor. It may be used alone or in combination with methotrexate or other nonbiologic DMARDs. It should not be used with the other approved JAK inhibitor (tofacitinib), biologic DMARDs, or other potent immunosuppressives (eg, azathioprine, cyclosporine).
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Content Update
April 18, 2018
American College of Rheumatology White Paper on Biosimilars: The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published a white paper that reviews the scientific, clinical, economic, and prescribing issues related to use of biosimilars. A "biosimilar" is a biologic product that is highly similar to an approved reference (or originator) biologic product and has no clinically meaningful differences in efficacy, adverse effects, or immunogenicity compared to the reference product. Based on the outcomes of rigorous regulatory requirements, the ACR white paper asserts that patients and healthcare providers should have confidence that an approved biosimilar should produce clinical outcomes comparable to those achieved with its reference product. The paper encourages healthcare providers to incorporate biosimilars into their practices where appropriate with the goal of continued delivery of high-quality health care at lower cost to individual patients.
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CHAPTER SUMMARY FROM THE PHARMACOTHERAPY HANDBOOK
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For the chapter in the Wells Handbook, please go to Chapter 4. Rheumatoid Arthritis.
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KEY CONCEPTS
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease characterized by symmetrical inflammation of joints, yet may involve other organ systems.
Control of inflammation is the key to slowing or preventing disease progression as well as managing symptoms.
Drug therapy should be only part of a comprehensive program for patient management, which would also include physical therapy, exercise, and rest. Assistive devices and orthopedic surgery may be necessary in some patients.
Patients should be treated to target of low disease activity or remission.
Traditional or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (referred to as DMARDs) should be started as soon as possible after diagnosis ...