Enbrel(R) (etanercept) Is the First Biologic With Published Efficacy and Safety Data for up to a Decade of Continuous Use for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid...( SAN FRANCISCO Oct. 27 /- Amgen (N...),Health

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), today announced that ENBREL is the first biologic with published clinical trial data to show sustained improvements in multiple measures of efficacy in moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients completing up to 10 years of therapy. In this analysis, the safety profile remained consistent with continuous ENBREL use for up to 10 years. These new data are being presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Scientific Meeting in San Francisco. (Abstract 1007; Poster Board 268)

"The long-term evaluation of medications for the treatment of RA is important because this is a chronic, progressive disease that requires continuous treatment to inhibit the progression of further joint damage," said Mark Genovese, M.D., Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California. "These 10-year data demonstrate that improvements in disease activity measures were maintained and the safety profile was consistent over time. Rheumatologists may find this long-term data helpful when prescribing ENBREL for clinically appropriate patients."

Data from two long-term, open-label extension studies presented at ACR showed that ENBREL provided improvement in the signs and symptoms of RA that was maintained for up to 10 years in adult patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) or long-standing RA (LRA). Approximately one-third of patients who started either study continued on ENBR
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