Content about Rheumatology

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Genentech for a rare form of arthritis in children, the company said Tuesday.

Genentech, a subsidiary of Swiss drug maker Roche, announced the approval of Actemra (tocilizumab) for polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children ages 2 years and older, either alone or combined with the generic drug methotrexate.

LONDON — GlaxoSmithKline has started a late-stage clinical trial of a drug in patients with an inflammatory disease that affects the blood vessels.

The drug maker announced the start of a phase-3 trial of Benlysta (belimumab) in patients with vasculitis, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks blood vessels, leading to inflammation, disruption of blood flow and possible damage to the organs. The drug is being tested in patients with a common form of the disease known as anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-positive vasculitis.

HORSHAM, Pa. — Johnson & Johnson is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a drug to treat active psoriatic arthritis, the company said Thursday.

J&J subsidiary Janssen Biotech submitted an application to the FDA for Stelara (ustekinumab) for adult patients with the disease, which affects more than 2 million people in the United States, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Another subsidiary is seeking approval for Stelara for the same usage in Europe.

LONDON — Vitamin D supplementation could be considered an immunomodulatory agent for systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease characterized not only by skin, joint, neurological and renal symptoms, but also by inflammation of tissue linings in the body, according to a new clinical study published Tuesday in BioMedCentral's open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy. 

An immunomodulatory agent has an effect on the immune system. 

SUPPLIER NEWS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Acton Pharmaceuticals for asthma, the company said. The drug maker announced the approval of Aerospan (flunisolide HFA) inhalation aerosol as a maintenance treatment for asthma in patients ages 6 years and older. The drug maker plans to launch the drug in early 2013.

HORSHAM, Pa. — A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson is hoping to gain Food and Drug Administration approval for a new formulation of one of its drugs.

Janssen Biotech announced that it had filed an application with the FDA seeking approval for an intravenous formulation of Simponi (golimumab) in adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, which affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans.

CHICAGO — The first study to report the effects vitamin D has on the immune system of people with lupus was unveiled Saturday at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting here.

The small sample study determined that vitamin D supplementation helped improve cell level counts associated with the disease.

BALTIMORE — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions on Tuesday launched the nation's first clinical pathways program for rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissue and affects nearly 2.1 million Americans each year.

NEW YORK — A health education television network has added nine condition-specific networks.

AccentHealth said in addition to its current lineup of four networks, the company will focus its attention on diabetes, heart health, men's health, mental health, senior women's health, rheumatology, allergies, asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease. These networks will reach and educate more than 13 million patients in doctors' waiting rooms each month through its digitally delivered content, the company said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Genentech for the treatment of two rare inflammatory disorders, the agency said.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for pain and inflammatory diseases made by Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Amneal said Thursday.

The FDA approved indomethacin extended-release capsules in the 75-mg strength. The drug is used to treat pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis and tendonitis.

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Savient Pharmaceuticals announced changes to its management team as it gears up for the commercial launch of its chronic gout treatment.

The drug maker appointed Louis Ferrari as its SVP corporate development, Christine Mikail as SVP and Stephen Davies as chief information officer and group VP.