The following information is
excerpted from Arthritis Today Special Report dated 10/98: "The New
Drugs; what to expect"
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By Mary Anne Dunkin |
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"New
and Improved..." As
consumers we hear words so much we know to be cynical. "New" often
means repackaged, redesigned or repriced. In a realm of arthritis treatment,
"new" options in recent years have usually been new formulations of
exiting drugs or new uses for existing drugs. Improvements, certainly, but
not really new. But
now, as we approach the millennium, all that is changing. With the
accumulation of knowledge from research and advances in molecular technology,
drug companies are developing and testing new treatments at an unprecedented
rate. That's right, treatments that are "new"-never before used for
arthritis or any other disease. You're probably already hearing about them.
In the popular press, they've been touted as "breakthroughs,"
"exciting treatments options" and "super aspirins." A
number of these new drugs have either come out recently or will be available
shortly. Three of these will be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), two
to treat osteoarthritis (OA), and two will be used to help treat any form of
arthritis that involves pain and inflammation. The RA
drugs are leflunomide (Arava), a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug and
infliximab (Remicade) and entanercept (Enbrel), two drugs from a relatively
new class called biologic response modifiers (BRMs), or biologic agents. The
two new OA drugs are hyaluronan (Hyalgan) and hylan GF20 (Synvisc) and are in
a new category called viscosupplements of=r hyaluronic acid substitutes.
(Interestingly, these are classified by FDA not as drugs, but as medical
devices.) The remaining two drugs are celecoxib (Celebrex) and Vioxx (at
press time, there was no generic name for this drug), both from a new class
called COX-2 inhibitors. Arthritis
Foundation Chances
are you or someone close to you has arthritis. Arthritis, which means
inflammation of the joints, causes pain and loss of movement. It is an
umbrella term for more than 120 diseases and conditions (such as lupus,
carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoporosis, gout and fibromyalgia). Arthritis
affects an estimated 43 million Americans - that's one in six people,
including nearly 300,000 children. It strikes women twice as often as men and
is America's #1 chronic, debilitating disease, costing the U.S. economy over
$65 billion annually. The
mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to support research to find the cure
for and prevention of arthritis and to improve the quality of life for those
affected by arthritis. For more information about arthritis or opportunities
to help, please call the Arthritis Foundation at 1 (800) 954-CURE. PETS
HAVE ARTHRITIS TOO! Arthritis
is a disease, which is commonly found in small animals, especially dogs. The
severity of arthritis is often shown by lameness, pain and loss of jumping
ability in dogs. Veterinarians have access to all of the modern ways to
diagnose and treat this disease. Annual check-ups at your veterinarian is the
best way to insure your pet's health. -
Dr. Ron Rowley, D.V.M. Crenshaw Animal Hospital |
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