Wyeth and Amgen report Enbrel safety data for JRA patients

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Amgen have announced the publication of information relating to the safety of Enbrel (etanercept) when used long term in moderate-to-severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients.

The companies report that the data suggests the safety profile of the drug is maintained in patients that have completed up to eight years of treatment with the compound.

Enbrel is a fully-human soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor indicated for a number of conditions that has been used collectively in various clinical settings for over 14 years.

The results of long-term safety profile analysis will be presented at the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (Eular) in Barcelona.

Andreas O Reiff, head of rheumatology and rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said: “The Enbrel data are important for both physicians and parents because they demonstrate the safety profile has remained consistent after long-term use in this patient population.”

He added that early diagnosis and treatment of JRA are vital if the symptoms of the condition are to be adequately managed.

Eular is an organisation that represents patients, healthcare professionals and academic societies in Europe concerned with rheumatology. Its 2007 annual congress is being held from June 13th-16th.