#sarilumab

[medicomunicare]

Sarilumab vs. polymyalgia rheumatica: it's time to kill that alive and kickin' pain

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is characterized by pain and morning stiffness in the shoulder and hips and affects people over the age of 50. It can significantly affect quality of life, and currently is mainly treated with the steroid, glucocorticoids. Although glucocorticoids can control the condition, more than half of PMR patients suffer relapse of their condition when reducing their steroid…

[drpriya]

Several medications are commonly used for arthritis treatment, depending on the type of arthritis and its severity.

Some of the most commonly prescribed medications include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, help reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): DMARDs, such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine, are used to slow down the progression of inflammatory arthritis by suppressing the immune system's abnormal response.

Biologic response modifiers (biologics): Biologics, including TNF inhibitors (e.g., adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab), interleukin inhibitors (e.g., tocilizumab, sarilumab), and other targeted therapies, target specific molecules involved in the inflammatory process of arthritis.

Corticosteroids: These powerful anti-inflammatory medications, such as prednisone and cortisone, are used to quickly reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms during arthritis flares. They are often used short-term due to potential long-term side effects.

Analgesics: Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol), tramadol, and opioid medications, may be used to manage arthritis pain, particularly when NSAIDs are not suitable or insufficient.

Topical treatments: Topical NSAIDs, capsaicin creams, and topical corticosteroids can be applied directly to the skin over affected joints to relieve pain and inflammation.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors: These newer medications, such as tofacitinib and baricitinib, target specific enzymes involved in the inflammatory process and are used to treat certain types of inflammatory arthritis.

Immunomodulators: Drugs like azathioprine, cyclosporine, and mycophenolate mofetil are sometimes used to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation in certain forms of arthritis.

Individuals with arthritis work closely with their healthcare providers to determine the most appropriate medication regimen based on their specific diagnosis, symptoms, medical history, and other factors.

Determining the effectiveness of biosimilars compared to other medications depends on various factors, including the specific condition being treated, individual patient characteristics, and clinical trial data.

Here are some considerations:

Clinical efficacy: Biosimilars are required to demonstrate similar efficacy to the reference biologic drug through rigorous clinical trials. Studies have shown that biosimilars are generally as effective as their reference products in treating conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and certain types of cancer.

Safety: Biosimilars undergo extensive safety evaluations to ensure they have a similar safety profile to the reference product. Adverse events associated with biosimilars are typically consistent with those of the reference biologic drug.

Cost-effectiveness: Biosimilars are often priced lower than their reference products, leading to potential cost savings for healthcare systems, insurers, and patients. This increased affordability can improve access to biologic therapies for patients who may otherwise face financial barriers.

Patient preference and tolerability: Some patients may have individual preferences or better tolerability with certain medications, whether they are biosimilars or reference biologics. Factors such as route of administration, frequency of dosing, and side effect profiles can influence treatment choices.

Ultimately, the choice between biosimilars and other medications depends on a thorough evaluation of clinical evidence, cost considerations, patient preferences, and healthcare provider recommendations.

In many cases, biosimilars offer a safe and effective alternative to reference biologic drugs, providing patients with additional treatment options and potentially reducing healthcare costs. However, individualized treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with a healthcare professional.

Get the best treatments for various diseases and full body health checkup at the best hospitals in India.

[karayoluhaber]

IL-6 reseptör antagonistleri ve antiplatelet ajanlar genel durumu kötü olan COVID-19 hastalarında 6.aydaki sağkalım oranlarını anlamlı şekilde arttırıyor.

JAMA tıp dergisinde yayınlanan Randomize REMAP-CAP Çalışmasında (JAMA. 2023;329(1):39-51. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.23257) IL-6 reseptör antagonistlerinin (tocilizumab, sarilumab, satralizumab ve siltuximab) anti-platelet ajanların genel durumu kötü olan COVID-19 hastalarının uzun dönemde (altıncı ayda) hayatta kalma olasılığını anlamlı bir şekilde arttırdığı saptandı. Aynı çalışma terapötik…

[researchupdates]

Sarilumab Market Analysis & Forecast Report 2021-2028 with Estimated Key Players- Regeneron Pharma, Sanofi

Global Sarilumab Market Synopsis:

The exclusive research report on the Global Sarilumab Market 2021-2028 examines the market in detail along with focusing on significant market dynamics for the key players operating in the market. Global Sarilumab Industry research report offers granulated yet in-depth analysis of revenue share, market segments, revenue estimates and various regions across the globe.

The Global Sarilumab Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.90% in the forecast period of 2021 to 2028.

Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-sarilumab-market .

According to the market research, Sarilumab is a monoclonal antibody which acts by blocking Interleukin-6. This medication is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and helps by reducing pain and swelling. It is also used to treat community-acquired pneumonia and others.

Some of the most important key factors driving the growth of the Global Sarilumab Market are increasing geriatric population, rise in the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, growing concentration of major pharmaceutical companies. Growing government initiatives and rising awareness.

The major players covered in the Global Sarilumab Market report are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi, among other domestic and global players.  

Regionally, North America dominates the Sarilumab Market due to the presence of major key players, continuous technological development, well-developed healthcare sector, increasing prevalence of diseases, and increasing awareness towards health in this region. Global Sarilumab Market in the APAC and Europe is expected to grow during the forecast period due to the increasing R&D activities, rising investment in the healthcare sector, increasing demand for the treatment, and increasing geriatric population.

Purchase this report online with 350 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on “Global Sarilumab Market Report 2021” @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-sarilumab-market .

[bidhuan]

2 Obat Arthritis Bisa Kurangi Resiko Kematian Pasien COVID-19

2 Obat Arthritis Bisa Kurangi Resiko Kematian Pasien COVID-19

Majalah Farmasetika – Penelitian terbaru temukan dua obat yang digunakan untuk mengobati rheumatoid arthritis dapat mengurangi rawat inap rumah sakit COVID-19 sebanyak 10 hari, dan menyelamatkan nyawa satu dari 12 pasien perawatan intensif dengan virus corona. Salah satu pengobatan, tocilizumab, dapat mengurangi risiko kematian relatif sebesar 24% bila diberikan kepada pasien dalam waktu 24 jam…

[acuguy]

CoVID-19 and Drugs Used

At the moment there is no medication that is specific for treating COVID-19 but yes, there are talks of drugs that have been repurpose for treating SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Which are those drugs and how they work? Do they promise any hope for stopping this virus?

WHO has started a trial program with the purpose to analyze different medications and their effect on the virus. The medications that made the cut are:

Remdesivir - the medication was mainly created to treat Ebola, but it has been noticed in labs that it can treat SARS and MERS, two coronavirus that behave similar to COVID-19. This medication works by inhibiting the enzyme RNA-Polymerase. With this enzyme out, the virus can’t replicate its RNA. It has been noticed that it’s effectiveness is during mild to moderate signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

 Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine - an antimalarial medication that reduces acidity in an endosome. An endosome is a vesicle that our cells use as transportation. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine prevents COVID-19 from using this method. There are two problems to this medication: first COVID-19 uses ACE-2 receptors as a way of propagation and not endosomes. Second, the dose to make it work is 600 to 800 mg for 10 days. The safe dose is 5 mg/kg/day, it is unknown if this high dose for 10 days causes problem. The French Doctor Didier Raoult, MD, PhD claims that hydroxychloroquine plus the antibiotic azytromicin cures COVID-19 and drops the viral load in a short period of time. Hydroxychloroquine is less toxic than chloroquine. This medication is used for LUPUS, Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders.

Ritonavir/Lopinavir - known in USA as Kaletra, this HIV medication prevents proteins from being transformed into smaller units that later will be use for translation and replication of the virus. It has been noticed that this medication works better at the beginning stage of the virus.

 Ritonavir/Lopinavir/Interferon Beta - this combination seems more promising as long as there is no severe symptoms of inflammation. In that case, interferon could cause more damage than help. The interferon beta is produced by Cuba.

ACEI’s and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Receptors Blockers (ARB) - Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors are meds for high blood pressure, kidney problems, or coronary problems. This medication is not being used by WHO in the trial but it is worth mentioning. SARSCOV-2 uses ACE2 to enter the body and it was hypothesized that blocking this receptors would help stop the virus but it has been noticed that the body increases the production of ACE receptors facilitating the propagation of the virus. If you or anyone you know uses any of the medications, please do not stop taking them. Please, self-quarantine and observe all the recommendations such as using a face mask, and keeping a 1.5 meter (6 feet) distance.

Tocilizumab or Sarilumab - It is not being used in the trial by WHO but, again, it is worth mentioning. This medication is an immunosuppressant and its purpose is to reduce IL-6 (interleukin 6) and prevent a cytokine storm in some patients. Some patients’ immune system go crazy before SARSCOV-2 and can cause more harm than help, therefore the medication.

Ivermectin - is an antiparasitic medicine that seems to clear the virus within 48 hours. Studies were done in vitro. Is not on the WHO list of meds in trial.

Favipiravir - an antiviral medication with a wide spectrum of action against different virus such as influenza, and ebola. This medication inhibits the replication of a virus and lowers viral load. China is sending it to Turkey while Japan has entered in talks with USA and other countries. This medicine is not part of WHO's trial.

In summary, there is no drug available. It takes time to develop and test one. At the moment, the medical community is repurposing some drugs and reporting to WHO in order to determine a best course of action. Therefore, the best action is, isolate, wash your hands, use a face mask, and keep a distance of 6 feet (1.5 meters). 

REFERENCES:

WHO launches global megatrial of the four most promising coronavirus treatments.  By Kai Kupferschmidt, Jon Cohen. AAAS. Science. March 22, 2020. Accessed April 4th, 2020.

Chronic use of heart disease medications may increase the risk of severe COVID-19. By Hannah Balfour. Drug Target Review. 24 March 2020. Accessed April 4th, 2020.

Treatments for COVID-19: Drugs being tested against the coronavirus. Live Science. 

Hydroxychloroquine: Possible COVID Drug Can Be Toxic to Retinas. Brianne N Hobbs,OD; Kalia M Osmotherly, OD. 2 April 2020. Accessed April 4th, 2020. 

‘Drug development is a long, long process’: pharma CEO in Italy sounds a note of caution on Covid-19. By Elizabeth Cooney. 26 March 2020. Accessed April 4th, 2020.

Coronavirus: What is Ivermectin and how it works. AS.COM. 4 April 2020.

Japan Is Racing to Test a Drug to Treat Covid-19. By Joshua Hunt. Wired.com 4 April 2020.

CoVID-19: More Hydroxychloroquine data from France, more questions. Veronique Duqueroy. Hospitalist. 1 April 2020.

Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine as available weapons to fight COVID-19. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.

[somuchtostudysolittletime]

Oddly niche pharmacist things:

Today I learnt tocilizumab is licenced for covid

I can’t tell if I’m shocked it’s ALREADY licenced or shocked that they didn’t licence it sooner. Either way I’m shocked I only learnt about it today.

[pharmatimesng]

Two more life-saving Covid drugs discovered

Two more life-saving Covid drugs discovered

Two more life-saving drugs have been found that can cut deaths by a quarter in patients who are sickest with Covid. The anti-inflammatory medications, given via a drip, save an extra life for every 12 treated, say researchers who have carried out a trial in NHS intensive care units. Supplies are already available across the UK so they can be used immediately to save hundreds of lives, say…

[murraypdavid]

Good News: Tocilizumab (Actemra) & Sarilumab (Kevzara) for COVID 19

[mikeo56]

Japan flu drug

A drug developed by Fujifilm Toyama Chemical in Japan is showing promising outcomes in treating at least mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, Live Science previously reported.

The antiviral drug, called Favipiravir or Avigan, has been used in Japan to treat influenza, and last month, the drug was approved as an experimental treatment for COVID-19 infections, Pharmaceutical Technology reported.

So far, reports suggest the drug has been tested in 340 individuals in Wuhan and Shenzhen. "It has a high degree of safety and is clearly effective in treatment," Zhang Xinmin, of China's science and technology ministry, said March 17, The Guardian reported.

The drug, which works by preventing certain viruses from replicating, seemed to shorten the duration of the virus as well as improve lung conditions (as seen in X-rays) in tested patients, though the research has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed science journal.

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, but preliminary research in human and primate cells suggests that the drugs could effectively treat COVID-19.

A 2005 study found that chloroquine could quell the spread of SARS-CoV when applied to infected human cells in culture. SARS-CoV is closely related to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and caused an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2002. Chloroquine disrupts the ability of the SARS-CoV virus to enter and replicate in human cells, Live Science previously reported. The cell culture studies of SARS-CoV-2 revealed that the drug and its derivative hydroxychloroquine undermine the novel virus' replication in a similar way.

Doctors in China, South Korea, France and the U.S. are now giving the drug to some patients with COVID-19 with promising, albeit anecdotal, results so far. The FDA is organizing a formal clinical trial of the drug.

As of Feb. 23, seven clinical trials had been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry to test whether COVID-19 infections could be treated with hydroxychloroquine. In addition, the University of Minnesota is studying whether taking hydroxychloroquine can protect people living with infected COVID-19 patients from catching the virus themselves.

In one heavily referenced study, conducted in France, a small number of patients with COVID-19 received either hydroxychloroquine alone or hydroxychloroquine in combination with an antibiotic called azithromycin. The authors reported that detectable concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 fell significantly faster in the study participants than coronavirus patients at other French hospitals who did not receive either drug. In six patients also given azithromycin, this promising effect appeared to be amplified.

However, the CDC noted that the small, non-randomized study "did not assess clinical benefit[s]" associated with the treatment; in other words, the study did not probe whether the treated patients were more likely to recover and survive their illness. Additionally, the agency advised that doctors should be cautious when giving either drug to patients with chronic disease, such as kidney failure, and especially those "who are receiving medications that might interact to cause arrhythmias."

A failed Ebola drug

A Gilead Sciences drug that was originally tested in people with Ebola, remdesivir, is being repurposed to see if it can effectively treat COVID-19.

The drug was found not to be effective in Ebola, but in lab studies, it has proven effective at inhibiting the growth of similar viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In a petri dish, remdesivir can prevent human cells from becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to a letter published in the journal Nature in February.

The Food and Drug Administration has currently approved use of remdesivir for compassionate use, meaning only patients with severe COVID-19 disease can be approved for treatment. In other countries, requirements to receive remdesivir may be less stringent.

Five clinical trials in China and the U.S. are currently evaluating whether remdesevir can reduce complications or shorten the disease course in COVID-19 patients, the medical news site STAT reported.

Many doctors are excited about the drug's potential.

"There's only one drug right now that we think may have real efficacy," Bruce Aylward of the World Health Organization said last month, as reported by STAT. "And that's remdesivir."

George Thompson, an infectious disease specialist at UC Davis Medical Center who treated an early, severe case of COVID-19, told Science magazine that their patient got better after getting the drug, about 36 hours after diagnosis. The doctors initially thought the patient would die, Thompson said.

However, such anecdotal evidence can't demonstrate effectiveness, and the lab has yet to analyze blood samples to show that the patient's clinical improvement following the administration of remdesivir coincided with a drop in viral load (concentration of viral particles). On the flip side, a study posted to the preprint database medRXiv looked at three patients treated with remdesivir. The study, which was not peer-reviewed, found no clear time-dependent relationship between getting the drug and seeing improvements in symptoms. The patients also experienced rectal bleeding, elevated liver enzymes, vomiting and nausea, which could potentially be tied to the drug.

Another quandary is that antiviral drugs generally work better the earlier patients get them, but because remdesivir is not FDA-approved for general use, only patients with the most severe, and late-stage, disease, qualify for its use in clinical trials, Thompson told Science.

On Sunday (March 22), Gilead Sciences announced that they were temporarily halting compassionate use of remdesivir, due to "overwhelming demand." Instead, they are focusing on approving previously submitted requests and streamlining the process, while directing people to enroll in clinical trials, STAT reported.

An HIV drug combination

The antiviral drug kaletra, a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir, generated early excitement. However, new data from China, published March 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine, could not detect a benefit when patients took the drug.

A total of 199 people with low oxygen levels were randomized to either receive kaletra or a placebo. While fewer people taking kaletra died, the difference was not statistically significant, meaning it could have been due to random chance. And both groups had similar levels of virus in their blood over time.

However, other studies are still ongoing, and there's still a possibility this combination could show some benefit. As with other antivirals, this drug would likely work better if given earlier in the disease course.

An immunosuppressant and an arthritis drug

For some patients with COVID-19, the virus itself doesn't do the worst damage. Rather, in some people their immune system goes into overdrive and launches an all-out assault known as a cytokine storm. That immune overreaction can damage tissue and ultimately kill people.

To quiet such cytokine storms, doctors are now trying an immunosuppressant known as Actemra, or tocilizumab. The drug is approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It blocks a cell receptor that binds something called interleukin 6 (IL-6). IL-6 is a cytokine, or a type of protein released by the immune system, that can trigger dangerous inflammatory cascades.

On March 19, pharmaceutical company Roche announced that it was launching a trial to see if tocilizumab could improve outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. One group will receive the drug plus other standard treatments, while another group will receive a placebo, plus standard treatments.

Regeneron is enrolling patients in a clinical trial to test another IL-6 inhibitor, known as sarilumab (kevzara), for treating COVID-19 pneumonia. The logic behind using sarilumab is similar to that for tocilizumab.

[ebolanyt]

Arthritis Drug Did Not Help Seriously Ill Covid Patients, Early Data Shows

By Gina Kolata The drug, sarilumab, sold as Kevzara, didn’t show benefits to patients who were hospitalized but not on ventilators. The study will continue with critically ill patients. Published: April 27, 2020 at 01:55PM from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2W8RAts via IFTTT

[madeinhistory-archived]

yo good news

1) i actually have muse! im actually going to write and talk to people  like a fucking  person for once rip 2) my CRP has gone down a lot. My SED rate and general inflammation level is high but it’s a good sign. he gave me sarilumab on top of my weekly 25 mg of methotrexate so we’ll see how it goes

[bidhuan]

Mengenal Sarilumab sebagai Obat COVID-19, Analog dari Tocilizumab

Mengenal Sarilumab sebagai Obat COVID-19, Analog dari Tocilizumab

Majalah Farmasetika – Covid-19 muncul pertama kali di Wuhan, Cina dan menyebar dengan cepat hampir ke seluruh negara di dunia. Pemakaian Sarilumab sebagai obat Covid-19 muncul karena pemakaian tocilizumab, antibody monoclonal, yang merupakan inhibitor interleukin-6 untuk mengobati pneumonia Covid-19.

Namun, peningkatan pemakaian tocilizumab ini menyebabkan habisnya stock tocilizumab, sehingga…