Matching articles for "Actemra"
Sarilumab (Kevzara) for Polymyalgia Rheumatica
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 13, 2024; (Issue 1702)
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi/Regeneron) for treatment
of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in adults who
had an inadequate response to corticosteroids...
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi/Regeneron) for treatment
of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in adults who
had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or
cannot tolerate a corticosteroid taper. Sarilumab is
the first biologic drug to be approved for treatment
of PMR; it was previously approved for treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis.
In Brief: Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (Breyanzi) for Large B-Cell Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 26, 2023; (Issue 1679)
The FDA has approved lisocabtagene maraleucel
(Breyanzi – BMS) for treatment of adults with large
B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including diffuse large
B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise...
The FDA has approved lisocabtagene maraleucel
(Breyanzi – BMS) for treatment of adults with large
B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including diffuse large
B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified,
high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal
large B-cell lymphoma, or follicular lymphoma
grade 3B who have disease refractory to first-line
chemoimmunotherapy, relapsed within 12 months
of or after first-line chemoimmunotherapy, are not
eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
due to comorbidities or age, or have relapsed
or refractory disease after ≥2 lines of systemic
therapy. Breyanzi is an individualized cellular
product prepared from the patient's own T cells,
which are genetically modified to express chimeric
antigen receptors (CAR) and then infused back into
the patient. The CAR T-cell products axicabtagene
ciloleucel (Yescarta) and tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah)
are also FDA-approved for treatment of large B-cell
lymphoma.
In Brief: Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 12, 2023; (Issue 1678)
Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus – Kite) has
been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults
with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It was previously
approved...
Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus – Kite) has
been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults
with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It was previously
approved for treatment of relapsed or refractory
mantle cell lymphoma. Tecartus is an individualized
cellular product prepared from the patients own
T cells, which are genetically modified to express
chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) and then infused
back into the patient. The CAR T-cell immunotherapy
tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) was approved in 2017 for
treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor
ALL in patients ≤25 years old.
COVID-19 Update: An EUA for Vilobelimab (Gohibic) for COVID-19
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 29, 2023; (Issue 1677)
The investigational anti-complement component 5a
(C5a) antibody vilobelimab (Gohibic – InflaRx) has
been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization
(EUA) for IV treatment of hospitalized adults
with...
The investigational anti-complement component 5a
(C5a) antibody vilobelimab (Gohibic – InflaRx) has
been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization
(EUA) for IV treatment of hospitalized adults
with COVID-19 beginning within 48 hours after
invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is started.
Vilobelimab is the first anti-C5a antibody to become
available in the US.
COVID-19 Update: Tocilizumab (Actemra) FDA-Approved for Treatment of COVID-19 (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 9, 2023; (Issue 1667)
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist
tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech) has been
approved by the FDA for IV treatment of COVID-19
in hospitalized adults who are receiving a systemic
corticosteroid...
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist
tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech) has been
approved by the FDA for IV treatment of COVID-19
in hospitalized adults who are receiving a systemic
corticosteroid and require supplemental oxygen,
mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane
oxygenation (ECMO). Tocilizumab was previously
available for this indication under an Emergency
Use Authorization (EUA); it remains available under
an EUA for treatment of children 2-17 years old
who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and require
oxygen support.
An EUA for Anakinra (Kineret) for COVID-19 (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 12, 2022; (Issue 1665)
The recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor
antagonist anakinra (Kineret – Sobi) has been
granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization
(EUA) for treatment of hospitalized adults with
confirmed COVID-19...
The recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor
antagonist anakinra (Kineret – Sobi) has been
granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization
(EUA) for treatment of hospitalized adults with
confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia who require low- or
high-flow supplemental oxygen, are at risk of
progressing to severe respiratory failure, and are
likely to have elevated plasma levels of soluble
urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR).
Anakinra has been available in the US for years; it
is FDA-approved for multiple indications, including
rheumatoid arthritis. Assays for suPAR are not
commercially available in the US.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 15, 2021; (Issue 1637)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in 0.5% of
adults in the US; it is about 2.5 times more common
in women than in men. Guidelines for treatment
of RA from the American College of Rheumatology
were...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in 0.5% of
adults in the US; it is about 2.5 times more common
in women than in men. Guidelines for treatment
of RA from the American College of Rheumatology
were recently updated. The goal of treatment is to
minimize disease activity and prevent irreversible
joint damage.
Expanded Table: Some Biologic Drugs and JAK Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 15, 2021; (Issue 1637)
...
View Expanded Table: Some Biologic Drugs and JAK Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Flowchart: Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 15, 2021; (Issue 1637)
...
View the Flowchart: Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
An EUA for Tocilizumab (Actemra) for COVID-19
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 26, 2021; (Issue 1629)
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech) has received an
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for IV treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients ≥2
years...
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech) has received an
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for IV treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients ≥2
years old who are receiving a systemic corticosteroid and require supplemental oxygen, mechanical
ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Tocilizumab has been approved by the FDA
for various indications, including rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Teprotumumab (Tepezza) for Thyroid Eye Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 31, 2021; (Issue 1625)
Teprotumumab-trbw (Tepezza - Horizon), an insulin-like
growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, has
been approved by the FDA for IV treatment of thyroid
eye disease. It is the first drug to be approved...
Teprotumumab-trbw (Tepezza - Horizon), an insulin-like
growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, has
been approved by the FDA for IV treatment of thyroid
eye disease. It is the first drug to be approved in the US
for this indication.
Some Drugs for COVID-19
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 6, 2020; (Issue 1595)
The severity and rapid spread of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) have raised questions about the use of some drugs in patients with the disease and whether currently available drugs could be effective in...
The severity and rapid spread of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) have raised questions about the use of some drugs in patients with the disease and whether currently available drugs could be effective in treating it. Definitive answers are lacking, but some recommendations can be made. For additional information on specific drugs, see our table Some Drugs Being Considered for Treatment of COVID-19.
Table: Treatments Considered for COVID-19 (Archived) (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 6, 2020; (Issue 1595)
...
View the Table: Treatments Considered for COVID-19
Some Drugs for COVID-19
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 6, 2020; (Issue 1919)
The severity and rapid spread of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) have raised questions about the use of some drugs in patients with the disease and whether currently available drugs could be effective in...
The severity and rapid spread of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) have raised questions about the use of some drugs in patients with the disease and whether currently available drugs could be effective in treating it. Definitive answers are lacking, but some recommendations can be made. For additional information on specific drugs, see our table Some Drugs Being Considered for Treatment of COVID-19.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 30, 2018; (Issue 1552)
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are used for initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) to achieve clinical remission and prevent
irreversible joint damage (see Table 1). DMARDs
generally...
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are used for initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) to achieve clinical remission and prevent
irreversible joint damage (see Table 1). DMARDs
generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect,
but over time they can control symptoms and have
been shown to delay and possibly stop progression
of the disease. Methotrexate (Trexall, and others)
is generally the drug of choice; it can be used for
patients with low, moderate, or high disease activity.
For mild disease, some clinicians prefer to start with
hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, and generics) and/or
sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and others).
Expanded Table: Biologic Agents for Rheumatoid Arthritis (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 30, 2018; (Issue 1552)
...
View Expanded Table: Biologic Agents for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Yescarta) for B-Cell Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 16, 2018; (Issue 1551)
The FDA has approved axicabtagene ciloleucel
(Yescarta – Kite) for treatment of adults with relapsed
or refractory CD19+ large B-cell lymphoma after ≥2
lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is an...
The FDA has approved axicabtagene ciloleucel
(Yescarta – Kite) for treatment of adults with relapsed
or refractory CD19+ large B-cell lymphoma after ≥2
lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is an individualized
cellular product prepared from the patient's own T cells,
which are genetically modified to express chimeric
antigen receptors (CAR) and then infused back into
the patient. It is the second CAR T-cell immunotherapy
to become available in the US. Tisagenlecleucel
(Kymriah), a CAR T-cell product previously approved
for treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients ≤25
years old, was recently also approved for relapsed or
refractory CD19+ large B-cell lymphoma after ≥2 lines
of systemic therapy.
Tocilizumab (Actemra) for Giant Cell Arteritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 25, 2017; (Issue 1530)
The FDA has approved the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor
antagonist tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech) for
subcutaneous (SC) treatment of giant cell arteritis
in adults. It is the first drug to be approved in...
The FDA has approved the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor
antagonist tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech) for
subcutaneous (SC) treatment of giant cell arteritis
in adults. It is the first drug to be approved in the US
for this indication. Tocilizumab is also approved for
treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular or
systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and cytokine
release syndrome.
Sarilumab (Kevzara) for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 14, 2017; (Issue 1527)
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi) for second-line
treatment of adults with moderately to severely
active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is the second...
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi) for second-line
treatment of adults with moderately to severely
active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is the second IL-6
inhibitor to be approved for this indication; tocilizumab
(Actemra) was approved earlier.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 22, 2014; (Issue 1458)
For initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, most expert clinicians prescribe a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and add a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or a corticosteroid to...
For initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, most expert clinicians prescribe a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and add a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or a corticosteroid to control symptoms. Methotrexate is generally the DMARD of choice...
DMARDs
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent irreversible damage to joints, and minimize toxicity associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. DMARDs generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect, but over time can control symptoms and have been shown to delay and possibly stop progression of the disease. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, and others) is generally the first DMARD prescribed; it can be used to treat mild, moderate, or severe RA. For mild disease, some clinicians prefer to start with hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, and generics) and/or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and others).
DMARDs
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent irreversible damage to joints, and minimize toxicity associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. DMARDs generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect, but over time can control symptoms and have been shown to delay and possibly stop progression of the disease. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, and others) is generally the first DMARD prescribed; it can be used to treat mild, moderate, or severe RA. For mild disease, some clinicians prefer to start with hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, and generics) and/or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and others).
Tofacitinib (Xeljanz) for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 7, 2013; (Issue 1407)
The FDA has approved tofacitinib (toe” fa sye’ ti nib;
Xeljanz – Pfizer), an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with moderately to severely active
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who...
The FDA has approved tofacitinib (toe” fa sye’ ti nib;
Xeljanz – Pfizer), an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with moderately to severely active
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate
response to or are intolerant of methotrexate. Ruxolitinib
(Jakafi) is the only other JAK inhibitor available in the
US; it is FDA-approved for treatment of myelofibrosis.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2012; (Issue 117)
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent
irreversible damage to joints, and minimize...
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent
irreversible damage to joints, and minimize toxicity
associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. DMARDs (Table 1)
generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect,
but over time can control symptoms and have been
shown to delay and possibly stop progression of the
disease. NSAIDs have immediate analgesic and antiinflammatory
effects, but may not affect the disease
process. Oral corticosteroids can relieve joint symptoms
and control systemic manifestations, but their
chronic use can cause many complications. Judicious
use of intra-articular corticosteroids can rapidly
decrease inflammation in acute joints with few, if any,
adverse effects.
Tocilizumab (Actemra) for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 14, 2010; (Issue 1340)
The FDA has approved tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech; RoActemra in Europe) for intravenous
(IV) treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had...
The FDA has approved tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech; RoActemra in Europe) for intravenous
(IV) treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an
inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2009; (Issue 81)
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent irreversible damage to joints and minimize toxicities associated with nonsteroidal...
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent irreversible damage to joints and minimize toxicities associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids.