PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) - including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) - is a frequent chronic inflammatory disease that affects mainly the axial skeleton. There is evidence that NSAIDs and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α blockers are efficacious, but not all patients achieve remission or a major clinical response. A variety of new drug classes have been investigated during the last years for the treatment of patients with AS in whom TNF blockers have failed or are contraindicated. RECENT FINDINGS: Data for abatacept, anakinra, apremilast, bisphosphonates, rituximab, secukinumab, sulfasalazine, thalidomide and tocilizumab were found. All studies had problems with design and methodology. SUMMARY: Although some trends for efficacy were seen, there is at present insufficient evidence to support a recommendation for any of these compounds. So far, none of these new drugs has been shown to reach response rates compared to TNF-blockers.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) - including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) - is a frequent chronic inflammatory disease that affects mainly the axial skeleton. There is evidence that NSAIDs and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α blockers are efficacious, but not all patients achieve remission or a major clinical response. A variety of new drug classes have been investigated during the last years for the treatment of patients with AS in whom TNF blockers have failed or are contraindicated. RECENT FINDINGS: Data for abatacept, anakinra, apremilast, bisphosphonates, rituximab, secukinumab, sulfasalazine, thalidomide and tocilizumab were found. All studies had problems with design and methodology. SUMMARY: Although some trends for efficacy were seen, there is at present insufficient evidence to support a recommendation for any of these compounds. So far, none of these new drugs has been shown to reach response rates compared to TNF-blockers.
Authors: M Fabris; L Quartuccio; C Fabro; S Sacco; S Lombardi; R Ramonda; D Biasi; D Punzi; S Adami; I Olivieri; F Curcio; S De Vita Journal: Pharmacogenomics J Date: 2015-07-07 Impact factor: 3.550
Authors: Joachim Sieper; Jürgen Braun; Jonathan Kay; Salvatore Badalamenti; Allen R Radin; Lixia Jiao; Stefano Fiore; Tanya Momtahen; George D Yancopoulos; Neil Stahl; Robert D Inman Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2014-02-18 Impact factor: 19.103