Amgen announced that Enbrel (etanercept) is the first biologic with published data to show improvements in multiple measures of efficacy that were sustained in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients completing up to nine years of therapy. These new data are being presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) scientific meeting in Washington, DC.

"The current data in rheumatoid arthritis suggest that Enbrel is both effective and safe in long-term use," said Mark Genovese, M.D., Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California. "These findings are significant because they provide a degree of reassurance to both the patient and the physician that unexpected safety concerns do not appear to be developing after nine years of use."

Enbrel continues to have a strong safety profile for extended periods of use. In the studies presented at ACR, rates of serious adverse events and serious infections remained low and were consistent with controlled portions from the double-blind phases of the studies. The overall number of observed malignancies (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers) were similar in type and number to what would be expected in the general population.

Additionally, data showed that 77 early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and 280 long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (LRA) patients who completed Enbrel treatment for up to eight years experienced substantial improvements in their ACR scores. Additionally, 73 LRA patients who completed Enbrel treatment for up to nine years experienced similar improvements. ACR scores are a composite measure of improvement in RA symptoms, including joint swelling and tenderness, pain, level of disability, overall patient and physician assessment, and an objective marker of inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Data being presented at ACR showed that Enbrel provided sustained improvement in the signs and symptoms of RA, in those patients who continued in the study, regardless of duration of disease. Following eight years of Enbrel therapy: 75 per cent of ERA patients and 76 per cent of LRA patients achieved ACR 20; 60 per cent of ERA patients and 52 per cent of LRA patients achieved ACR 50; 35 per cent of ERA patients and 26 per cent of LRA patients achieved ACR 70. Further, for those patients with LRA who received Enbrel treatment for nine years, 74 per cent achieved ACR 20, 41 per cent achieved ACR 50, and 22 per cent achieved ACR 70.

The ability to perform daily activities is an important goal for many people with RA, and data presented at ACR showed that treatment with Enbrel may help them achieve this goal. Through eight years of treatment with Enbrel, data showed that 73 to 85 per cent of patients with ERA and 53 to 72 per cent of patients with LRA achieved a clinically significant improvement in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score, a patient questionnaire that measures disability. A clinically significant improvement in HAQ was defined as at least a 0.22 improvement from baseline.

"Before I was diagnosed with RA, the pain, stiffness and fatigue stopped me from doing many of the activities I enjoyed," said Gloria Treece, a participant in the study. "Since starting Enbrel treatment approximately nine years ago, I'm now able to take part in many activities with my family."

These studies were designed to assess the safety and long-term efficacy of Enbrel in adult LRA patients who have failed to respond to at least one disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, and adult patients with ERA (defined as less than or equal to three years of disease duration). Patients with RA who participated in controlled clinical trials of Enbrel were eligible to enrol in open-label extension studies.



More than two million Americans suffer from RA, which can cause stiffness, swelling, and limitation in the motion and function of multiple joints. If RA is left untreated, patients can become disabled from joint damage caused by the disease, limiting their ability to function.

Enbrel is a fully human soluble TNF receptor. Enbrel has more than 14 years of collective clinical experience.

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 reducing signs and symptoms of moderate to severe polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have failed one or more disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Enbrel reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage of active arthritis from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Enbrel can be used with methotrexate in patients who do not respond adequately to methotrexate alone. Reducing signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing, spondylitis. The treatment of adult patients (18 years or older) with chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Enbrel is a type of protein called a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blocker that blocks the action of a substance your body's immune system makes called TNF. 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. But, in doing so, Enbrel can also lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections.