New Juvenile Arthritis Studies Reaffirm Safety And Effectiveness Of Two Drugs

Two studies released reaffirmed TNF
inhibitors, biologic agents often used to treat adults with rheumatoid arthritis, are safe and
effective treatments for children with juvenile arthritis (JA). The two drugs, adalimumab
and etanercept, were studied separately. One study focused solely on the effectiveness of
adalimumab in children and the other focused on the safety of etanercept when used to
treat children.


Both studies highlighted promising results. A 48-week trial revealed that 56
percent of children taking adalimumab experienced a 70 percent improvement in signs
and symptoms. The second study found that etanercept maintained a good safety and
efficacy profile up to eight years and that at the end of seven years, 29 percent of children
studied achieved complete remission.


"This research offers new hope for the 300,000 children across the country who
experience severe arthritis pain that can significantly impact their quality of life," said
John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "Because of the
lack of pediatric rheumatologists, research in this field is critical. The Arthritis
Foundation is committed to addressing the problem of the severe shortage of pediatric
rheumatologists in this country so that more children with juvenile arthritis can benefit
from these new treatment advances."


Juvenile Arthritis is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, yet it
often goes undetected or misdiagnosed. If left untreated, irreversible joint damage may
occur. Compounding the problem is the critical need for pediatric rheumatologists who
are trained to diagnose and treat children and youth with arthritis.


Every year, the Arthritis Foundation hosts a nationwide Juvenile Arthritis
conference. Kids and families with juvenile arthritis, pediatric rheumatologists and other
healthcare providers, and arthritis researchers gather for various sessions designed to give
up-to-date, valuable information about treatments for this serious disease and support to
help overcome the obstacles for all those affected by juvenile arthritis. For more
information about Juvenile Arthritis and current research, visit arthritis.


About the Arthritis Foundation


The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs
of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation's most common cause of
disability. Founded in 1948, with headquarters in Atlanta, the Arthritis Foundation has
multiple service points located throughout the country.


The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to
arthritis research in the world, funding more than $380 million in research grants since
1948. The foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public
health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based
programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

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