ULORIC(R) (febuxostat) Demonstrated Efficacy for Management of Hyperuricemia in Patients...( PHILADELPHIA Oct. 17 /- Data presente...),Health

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Data presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology highlight effects of baseline characteristics on achievement of serum uric acid (sUA) levels to <6.0 mg/dL and the frequency of flares with ULORIC® (febuxostat) treatment.

A subset of subjects from the CONFIRMS trial who received prior urate-lowering therapy for up to five years achieved sUA <6.0 mg/dL more often, and had a lower rate of acute gout flares than patients who had not received prior long-term urate-lowering therapy.

According to Michael Becker, M.D., professor emeritus of medicine, rheumatology section, The University of Chicago School of Medicine, gout associated with hyperuricemia is a chronic condition that requires long-term management. "One of the hallmarks of gout is the painful and disabling acute flare of arthritis that patients experience. The results of the CONFIRMS trial suggest that by achieving and maintaining sUA <6.0 mg/dL over time the risk of future gout flares can be diminished."

Study Design & Results:

Baseline (BL) Characteristics of Gout Subjects Influence Urate-Lowering (UL) Efficacy During Febuxostat and Allopurinol Treatment

The CONFIRMS trial randomized 2,269 patients with gout and sUA greater than or equal to 8.0 mg/dL to receive six months of daily treatment with ULORIC 40 mg, 80 mg or allopurinol 300 mg (or 200 mg if baseline estimated creatinine clearance was <60 mL/min). Effects of BL subject characteristics on achievement of sUA <6.0 mg/dL at the final visit were evaluated.

Results from this study showed that 45 percent of the ULORIC 40 mg group and 67 percent of the ULORIC 80 mg group achieved sUA <6.0 mg/dL at their final visit, compared with 42 percent of the allopurinol group.

In subjects with BL moderate renal impairment (estimated creatinine clearance 30 to
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