- Patients had intermediate to high baseline CRP levels, indicating that psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease.
- The median reduction in CRP levels from baseline was 1.0 mg/L in psoriasis patients receiving ENBREL vs. 0.1 mg/L in those receiving placebo (P<0.001).
"The finding that patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis had increased inflammation, as exhibited by elevated CRP levels, reinforces that psoriasis is not only a skin disease, but in some patients may be a serious medical condition," said Bruce Strober, M.D., Ph.D., study investigator, co-director of the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Center of New York University Medical Center. "The results from this study are encouraging because they show that ENBREL not only improved the symptoms of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, but reduced their levels of CRP as well. However, further research is needed to better understand whether reducing CRP levels lowers the risk for developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease that may derive from increased systemic inflammation."
The analysis also evaluated the relationship between CRP levels and body mass index (BMI), an indicator of body fat, in people with psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis. Notably, obesity is common among patients with psoriasis. Findings showed:
- Heavier patients with higher BMIs tended to have higher CRP levels.
- ENBREL decreased CRP levels in overweight and obese psoriasis patients. Specifically, among patients treated with ENBREL, median CRP values decreased from high or intermediate levels to intermediate or low levels after 12 weeks of treatment in all BMI groups except normal weight psoriasis patients.
The 24 study was van weekregistrational designed to test the efficacy and originally safety of ENBREL therapy in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. the results of which have previously reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. been The primary objective of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of ENBREL in reducing levels of CRP in psoriasis patients with and without psoriatic arthritis from baseline to week 12 compared to placebo. Secondary objectives were to assess CRP values at baseline, and to assess the relationship between CRP levels and patient characteristics, such as BMI, use of statin drugs, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). During the double-blind portion of the analysis, patients were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or ENBREL injections (25 mg once weekly, 25 mg twice weekly or 50 mg twice weekly) for 12 weeks. During the subsequent 12 weeks, patients who initially received ENBREL continued to receive treatment with ENBREL at the same dose, while patients in the placebo group switched to ENBREL 25 mg twice weekly. ABOUT C-REACTIVE PROTEIN CRP is a blood protein that is a marker for a number of inflammatory conditions and is an indicator of risk for cardiovascular disease. The development of a high sensitivity CRP assay (hs-CRP) has enabled detection of low levels of CRP previously undetectable by traditional CRP evaluations. Even low levels of CRP (i.e., less than 3 mg/L), as measured by this high sensitivity test, are associated with increased cardiovascular risk; however it is not clear that CRP plays a causal role in the development of cardiovascular disease. The safety and efficacy of ENBREL have not been established for decreasing cardiovascular risk. ABOUT ENBREL ENBREL is a fully human soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor. ENBREL was first approved in 1998 for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and has since been used in nearly 500,000 patients worldwide across indications.
ENBREL indications in the U.S.:
- ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. ENBREL can be taken with methotrexate or used alone.
- ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.
- ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis. ENBREL can be used in combination with methotrexate in patients who do not respond adequately to methotrexate alone.
- ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
- ENBREL is indicated for the treatment of adult patients (18 years or older) with chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.
What important information do I need to know about taking prescription Enbrel® (etanercept)"
ENBREL is a type of protein called a substance van factor blocker (TNF) that blocks the action van tumornecrosis of a your het body immuunsysteem makes TNF. called People with an immune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis, have too much TNF in their bodies. ENBREL can reduce the amount of TNF in the body to normal levels, helping to treat your disease. Van in doing so. can also ENBREL van But. infections van het ability of your immuunsysteem lower the to fight.
All medicines have side effects, including ENBREL. Possible side effects of ENBREL include:
- Infections van Serious
- Many occurred in people prone to infection, such as those with advanced or poorly controlled diabetes
- Some serious infections have been fatal
- Rare cases of tuberculosis have occurred
- What not to do
- Do not start ENBREL if you have an infection, such as an open sore or the flu, or are allergic to ENBREL or its components
- What to do
- Tell your doctor if you are prone to infection or have had hepatitis B
- Stop ENBREL if a serious infection occurs
- Contact your doctor if you have questions about ENBREL or develop an infection
- Tell your doctor if you have ever been treated for heart failure
- Serious nervous system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of these disorders or if you develop them after starting ENBREL
- Rare reports of serious blood disorders (some fatal)
- Van doctor immediately if you van Contact your such as persistent fever. die develop symptoms. bruising die or bleekheid. bleeding
- In medical studies of all TNF blockers, including ENBREL, a higher rate of lymphoma (a type of cancer) was seen compared to the general population. The risk of lymphoma may be up to several-fold higher in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis patients
- The role of TNF blockers, including ENBREL, in the development of lymphoma is unknown
- ENBREL can cause injection site reaction
- In a medical study of patients with JRA, infection, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea occurred more frequently than in adults
- The kinds of infections reported were generally mild and similar to those usually seen in children
- Other serious adverse reactions were reported rarely, including serious infection (2 percent) and depression/personality disorder (1 percent)
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If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your doctor. Please visit www.enbrel.com or call 1-888-4ENBREL to het meest request additionalinformation. including the full U.S. Prescribing Information. About Amgen and Wyeth Division of Wyeth. market ENBREL in North America van Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. van Amgen and a. Wyeth markets ENBREL outside of North America. Immunex Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen, manufactures ENBREL.
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. Het pioneering van To learn more about our science and our vital medicines. visit www.amgen.com.
Het leading van division of Wyeth. van Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. a has products in the areas of women healthcare. infectious van het centrale zenuwstelsel. inflammation. van disease. gastrointestinal health. van transplantation. hemophilia. nutritional van oncology. vaccines and products.
Het meest largest Wyeth is one of the world research-driven pharmaceutical and healthcare products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. Majordivisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health van Company van The. To learn more. visit www.wyeth.com. Amgen forward -Looking Statement Het perscommuniqué van This contains het forward - looking statements that are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks uncertainties and assumptions. van Amgen that could cause actual results to differ materially from those. described All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward - looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward - looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports filed by Amgen, including Amgen's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and most recent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Please refer to Amgen's most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K for additional information on the uncertainties and risk factors related to Amgen's business. Unless otherwise noted. Amgen is providing thisinformation as of Feb. 1. 2008 and disclaims any duty to update information in expressly thisperscommuniqué. contained
No forward - looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those Amgen projects. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in humans. The complexity of the human body cannot be perfectly, or sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture systems or animal models. The length of time that it takes for Amgen to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval for product marketing has in the past varied and Amgen expects similar variability in the future. Amgen develops product candidates internally and through licensing collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures. Product candidates that are derived from relationships may be subject to disputes between the parties or may prove to be not as effective or as safe as Amgen may have believed at the time of entering into such relationship. Also, Amgen or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with Amgen's products after they are on the market. Amgen's business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and products liability claims. Amgen depends on third parties for a significant portion of its manufacturing capacity for the supply of certain of its current and future products and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of its current products and product candidate development.
In addition, sales of Amgen's products are affected by the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payors, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment as well as U.S. legislation affecting pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement. Government and others' regulations and reimbursement policies may affect the development, usage and pricing of Amgen's products. In addition, Amgen competes with other companies with respect to some of its marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Amgen believes that some of its newer products, product candidates or new indications for existing products, may face competition when and as they are approved and marketed. Amgen's products may compete against products that have lower prices, established reimbursement, superior performance, are easier to administer, or that are otherwise competitive with its products. In addition, while Amgen routinely obtain patents for its products and technology, the protection offered by its patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors and there can be no guarantee of Amgen's ability to obtain or maintain patent protection for its products or product candidates. Amgen cannot guarantee that it will be able to produce commercially successful products or maintain the commercial success of its existing products. Amgen's stock price may be affected by actual or perceived market opportunity, competitive position, and success or failure of its products or product candidates. Further, the discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of Amgen's products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on Amgen's business and results of operations.
The scientific information in thisperscommuniqué discussed related to preliminary investigative and van Amgen product candidates is. Such product candidates are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the product candidates. Only the FDA can determine whether the product candidates are safe and effective for the use being investigated. Discussed scientific information van Further. the in van relatings to new indications van het thisperscommuniqué preliminary and van Amgen for products is investigative and die is not part of the by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the (FDA) products. approved labeling The products are not approved for the investigational use discussed in van conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or van het thisperscommuniqué. and no effectiveness of the products for these uses. Only the FDA can determine whether the products are safe and effective for these uses. Professionals van Healthcare should refer to and upon the fDA-Approved rely labeling for the products and not the information. discussed in thisperscommuniqué. Wyeth forward -Looking Statement The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward - looking statements based on current expectations of future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include the inherent uncertainty of the timing and success of, and expense associated with, research, development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our products, including with respect to our pipeline products; government cost-containment initiatives; restrictions on third-party payments for our products; substantial competition in our industry, including from branded and generic products; data generated on our products; the importance of strong performance from our principal products and our anticipated new product introductions; the highly regulated nature of our business; product liability, intellectual property and other litigation risks and environmental liabilities; uncertainty regarding our intellectual property rights and those of others; difficulties associated with, and regulatory compliance with respect to, manufacturing of our products; risks associated with our strategic relationships; economic conditions including interest and currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; trade buying patterns; the impact of legislation and regulatory compliance; risks and uncertainties associated with global operations and sales; and other risks and uncertainties detailed. die those in our periodic reports filed with the van reports on Form 8-K. reports on Form 10-Q van Securities and Exchange Commission. van tijd tot tijd quarterly including our current van report on Form 10-K and annual discussion under the caption „Item 1A. Risk Factors.“. particularly the including The forward - looking statements in this press release are qualified by these risk factors. We assume no obligation to publicly update any forward - looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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