According to new results from the WELCOME trial, exploratory data analyzing the impact of treatment with CIMZIA(®) (certolizumab pegol) - the only PEGylated anti-TNF (alpha) (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha) - administered either every two weeks or every four weeks, showed that the majority of Crohn's disease patients in both dosing groups experienced no hospitalizations and surgical procedures during the course of the 26-week study. These exploratory data from the WELCOME trial, which studied patients who had been on the anti-TNF therapy infliximab, but failed or developed a hypersensitivity to the treatment, will be presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Meeting.
CIMZIA is indicated for reducing the signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. The recommended initial adult dose of CIMZIA is 400mg at Weeks 0, 2 and 4. In patients who obtain a clinical response, the recommended maintenance regimen is 400 mg every four weeks.