In a nutshell
This study investigated the long-term effectiveness and safety of certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a real-world practice. They found that this medication was safe and patients had a sustained response.
Some background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition. It is caused by painful inflammation in the joints. RA is treated with drugs to reduce inflammation. They are called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). There are several types of DMARDs. One of these is biological DMARDs (bDMARDs). These drugs are antibodies that bind to inflammatory proteins or receptors.
Certolizumab pegol (CP) is a bDMARD. It targets a protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). It is designed to be administered every 2-4 weeks. It is a relatively new bDMARD and used to treat conditions including RA. The long-term safety and effectiveness of CP in patients with RA in a real-world practice are still unknown.
Methods & findings
This study included 792 patients with RA. Patients were treated with the approved dose of CP. Follow-up assessments were performed at 12, 24, and 36 months. The response to treatment was measured by the disease activity score (DAS28). A lower score means a lower disease activity and a good response to treatment.
The number of patients still taking CP was 378 at 12 months, 296 at 24 months, and 246 at 36 months. Among the patients who were still on CP at 12 months, 81.7% had responded to treatment. Among those on CP at 24 months, 81.1% had responded to treatment. Among those on CP at 36 months, 87.3% had responded to treatment.
Overall, 55.5% of the participants experienced side effects. 30.5% stopped CP treatment due to side effects. The most common serious side effects related to CP treatment included infections (8.5%), skin reactions (2.4%), lung and respiratory problems (2.4%), and muscle and joint problems (2.1%).
The bottom line
The authors concluded that CP was safe and patients had a sustained response after 3 years in the real-world.
The fine print
This was an observational study. Information about patients who stopped CP treatment was missing. This might have influenced the results. This study was funded by UCB Pharma, the manufacturer of CP.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding RA treatment please consult with your doctor.
Published By :
Clinical and experimental rheumatology
Date :
Sep 04, 2020
