Arthritis improvement
September 23, 2010
A PHASE II study of the new oral
syk inhibitor, fostamatinib inlicensed
by Rigel Pharmaceuticals
has found the drug “significantly
improved outcomes of patients with
rheumatoid arthritis who responded
inadequately to methotrexate
treatment”.
Published in the New England
Journal of Medicine, the six-month
study found that 67% of patients
taking fostamatinib 100mg twice
daily achieved the primary efficacy
endpoint (at six months), whilst
36% of patients were found to have
a 20% reduction in pain levels,
acute phase reactant, physical
function and patient and physicial
global assessment after just seven
days of treatment.
“In this study, we saw a
significant clinical benefit in this
rheumatoid arthritis population and
a manageable safety profile,” said
Mark Genovese, Division of
Rheumatology, Stanford University.
“Based on the data, further study
of fostamatinib as an oral agent for
the treatment of patients with
rheumatoid arthritis is certainly
warranted,” he added.
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