Home » Drug Information » FDA-Approved Drugs » 2001
Medical Areas: Musculoskeletal | Rheumatology
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Drug Information
The following information is obtained from various newswires, published
medical journal articles, and medical conference presentations.
Company: Amgen
Approval Status: Approved November 2001
Treatment Area: Rheumatoid arthritis
Kineret is an injectable therapy approved for the treatment of
signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in adults who have
failed one or more disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
The drug is administered once-daily through subcutaneous
injection.
RA is a disabling condition that causes pain, swelling and
severe limitations of movement. Joint inflammation can destroy
cartilage, tendons and ligaments, wear away bone and subsequently
cause joint deformity. While RA can affect people at any age, it
occurs most commonly in individuals ages 25 - 50.
The safety and efficacy of Kineret has been tested in almost
3,000 subjects. Four placebo-controlled trials evaluated Kineret in
combination with other DMARDs or as a monotherapy. The drug was
shown, both alone and in combination with other therapies, to
improve the signs and symptoms of RA. Many clinical responses,
including a decrease in inflammation and pain, were seen in the
fourth treatment week and most were seen by week 12.
Adverse events associated with the use of Kineret may include
(but are not limited to) the following:
- Injection site reaction
- Infection
- Headache
- Nausea
Kineret (anakinra) is a direct and selective blocker of
interleukin-1 (IL-1) that works by inhibiting the binding of IL-1
to the IL-1 receptor. IL-1 is a protein that occurs in excess in
those with RA. IL-1 production is increased in response to the
inflammatory stimuli present from RA.
For additional information on Kineret, please visit
