REMICADE(R) Becomes First Anti-TNF Biologic Therapy to Treat One Million Patients Worldwide
2007 NOV 19 -- Centocor, Inc., Schering-Plough Corporation, and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation announced that an estimated one million patients have now been treated with REMICADE(R) (infliximab), the leading anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapy worldwide. In fact, REMICADE has been used to treat more patients worldwide than all other anti-TNF-alpha agents combined. REMICADE was the first anti-TNF-alpha treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), when it was indicated for the treatment of acute moderate to severe Crohn's disease in 1998. The indication for Crohn's disease was quickly followed by additional indications, such as rheumatoid arthritis. "Rheumatoid arthritis derailed my life," said Ellen Shmueli, RA patient. "Simple tasks like lifting my child or holding a pen were nearly impossible. It's hard to put into words what REMICADE has meant to me." Through a long line of firsts in the biotechnology industry, the history of REMICADE includes 15 FDA indications spanning across inflammatory diseases that include Crohn's disease (adult and pediatric), ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. "This significant milestone was achieved as a result of nearly three decades of expanding and improving access for people living with life-altering inflammatory diseases," said Neal Fowler, President, Centocor, Inc. "In partnership with Centocor R&D, we will continue our pledge of bringing the promise of biomedicine to physicians and patients through continued research and development, REMICADE and our promising pipeline portfolio." REMICADE has been studied in more than 37 clinical trials, evaluating its use in a wide variety of diseases of the immune system and is approved for use in 88 countries. "Having been a part of its initial approval in 1998, I have personally witnessed how REMICADE has satisfied unmet therapeutic needs and resulted in significant life-changing improvements in patients," said Thomas F. Schaible, PhD, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Centocor, Inc. "Almost a decade later, REMICADE continues to positively affect patients' lives and Centocor continues its commitment to developing novel and important therapies for diseases of the immune system." "Around the world, the treatment of patients with inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, has been transformed by the availability of REMICADE," said Robert J. Spiegel, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president, Schering-Plough Research Institute. "Schering-Plough is committed to bringing the benefits of REMICADE, with its proven efficacy and rapid onset of action, to relieve the suffering of patients with these chronic inflammatory conditions." Keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Anticancer Therapy, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Centocor Inc., Crohn Disease, Drugs, Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal, Infliximab, Pediatric, Pharmaceutical Business, Pharmaceutical Company, Pharmaceuticals, Psoriatic Arthritis, Regulatory Actions, Remicade, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatology, Therapy, Treatment, Ulcerative Colitis, Centocor Inc. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
|
