Autoimmune Diseases

Prompted by the proliferation of new therapies in the field, the American College of Rheumatology has updated its guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Medications currently available to treat osteoporosis slow the rate of bone loss primarily by reducing bone resorption. The purported advantage of the anabolic agent teriparatide is that it actually promotes new bone growth. Clinical trials have shown the drug to be effective for vertebral fracture prevention in postmenopausal women at high risk. Additional evidence is accumulating to support teriparatide's use in other populations (including men) with osteoporosis. This injectable is likely to receive FDA approval in the second half of this year.

With its FDA approval in November, valdecoxib becomes the hird COX-2 inhibitor to gain US market clearance. This Focus article examines valdecoxib's pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and therapeutic aspects and considers its role in relation to other COX-2 inhibitors and traditional NSAIDs. Special attention is devoted to its comparative COX-1:COX-2 inhibitory ratio and an array of unpublished efficacy and safety trials.

Biologic: First IL-1 receptor blocker for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis

NME: COX-2 inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and dysmenorrhea

Two new real-world comparisons of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers infliximab (Remicade) and etanercept (Enbrel) show that the two agents are highly comparable treatments for rheumatoid arthritis