New SIMPONI(TM) Data Show Long-Term Efficacy in Treatment of Rheumatoid...( PHILADELPHIA Oct. 19 /- New long-term...)

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- New long-term data from two pivotal, Phase 3 clinical trials showed that patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving SIMPONI(TM) (golimumab) every four weeks achieved sustained improvements in signs and symptoms and physical function response through one year. These new data were presented today at the 2009 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting.

"New data demonstrate sustained efficacy of golimumab dosed every four weeks in patients with RA who were previously treated with anti-TNF agents," said Dr. Jonathan Kay, Professor of Medicine and Director of Clinical Research in the Rheumatology Division at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts and lead study investigator.

Findings from the GOlimumab After Former anti-TNF Therapy Evaluated in RA (GO-AFTER) study demonstrated that patients with RA previously treated with adalimumab, etanercept or infliximab responded to, and maintained response to, SIMPONI through one year. At week 52, 63 percent of patients receiving SIMPONI 50 mg achieved at least a 20 percent improvement in arthritis signs and symptoms as measured by American College of Rheumatology (ACR 20) response, and 41 percent achieved a 50 percent improvement in arthritis signs and symptoms as measured by ACR 50 response.

SIMPONI-treated patients who had discontinued previous anti-TNF treatment for any reason sustained improvements in physical function, as measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). At week 52, patients receiving SIMPONI 50 mg maintained a clinically relevant improvement (decrease in HAQ score of at least 0.25) from baseline. Similar results were previously reported at week 24. HAQ assesses the degree of difficulty a person has in accomplishing tasks in eight functional areas (dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reaching,
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