UCB reports on the outcome of Cimzia and MTX treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

UCB today announced data that showed rapid and sustained improvements in ACR20, physical function, pain and fatigue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as early as the first week, and inhibition of progression of structural joint damage (seen at week 24) following treatment with Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol), together with methotrexate (MTX), was sustained up to 100 weeks. Cimzia® is approved for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. Cimzia® can be dosed at 400 mg initially and at weeks 2 and 4, followed by 200 mg every other week; for maintenance dosing, 400 mg every 4 weeks can be considered.

Also presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in Philadelphia data from a post hoc analysis() showed the speed of developing a clinical response to treatment with 200 mg Cimzia® and MTX, was important in improving long-term outcomes for patients living with active RA. The analysis found most patients achieved early control at Week 6. These patients had significantly better control of symptoms and significantly better improvements in pain and physical function at one year, compared to patients who achieved a later response at Week 12.

"These recently published data have shown Cimzia® to work rapidly, and demonstrate that an early response to treatment is associated with greater improvements in long-term outcomes," said lead investigator Edward Keystone, M.D., at The Rebecca MacDonald Center for Arthritis, Mount Sinai Hospital, The University of Toronto. "The data also confirm the rapid and sustained effect of Cimzia® in providing effective and clinically meaningful relief of rheumatoid arthritis, and reducing disease progression," he added. "This highlights the importance of getting the disease under control quickly in this debilitating condition which helps improve overall quality of life."