Abatacept News and Research

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Abatacept (marketed as Orencia) is a fusion protein composed of an immunoglobulin fused to the extracellular domain of CTLA-4, a molecule capable of binding B7. Abatacept is a selective costimulation modulator as it inhibits the costimulation of T cells. It was developed by Bristol-Myers-Squibb and is licensed in the United States for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the case of inadequate response to anti-TNFa therapy.

Biologic drugs may help prevent progressive bone loss in patients with RA

A new review by the International Osteoporosis Foundation Chronic Inflammation and Bone Structure Working Group concludes that early and aggressive treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with biologic drugs, specifically biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), may be most effective in halting progressive bone loss in patients with RA.

7 Nov 2016

Anti-CPP presence in bloodstream of RA patients correlates with drug response

The results of a study presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress showed that the presence of an antibody (anti-CPP ) in the bloodstream of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) correlates with response to different drug treatments.

10 Jun 2016

Treatment with rheumatoid arthritis drug saved transplanted kidney and achieved remission

A drug approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis may also turn out to be the first targeted therapy for one of the most common forms of kidney disease, a condition that almost inevitably leads to kidney failure.

11 Nov 2013

ACR journals publish guide that provides new treatments for children with systemic JIA

In the U.S., there are nearly 300,000 children with juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic illnesses according to estimates from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). For pediatric patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), effective treatment for this disabling disease is imperative.

24 Sep 2013

Vanderbilt examines ability of drug abatacept to prevent type 1 diabetes

Vanderbilt's Eskind Diabetes Clinic has been selected to examine the ability of the drug abatacept to prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D). As part of the TrialNet consortium, Vanderbilt will be one of 14 North American sites observing the effects of the drug in people at high risk to develop T1D.

17 Sep 2013

Study describes lack of positive effects in drugs, long-term data and robust direct comparisons in RA

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined 9 biotechnologically produced drugs for the treatment of adults with rheumatoid arthritis in whom prior pharmacological treatment had failed.

31 Aug 2013

Updated EULAR recommendations for management of rheumatoid arthritis

The European League Against Rheumatism has released updated recommendations for the management of RA. According to this latest guidance, treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs should be initiated as soon as a diagnosis of RA is made, with the aim of reaching a target of remission or low disease activity in every patient.

4 Jul 2013

AMPLE trial demonstrates similar safety profiles and efficacy between abatacept and adalimumab in RA

Data from AMPLE presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrate comparable efficacy and similar safety profiles between subcutaneous abatacept (ABA) and adalimumab (ADA).

13 Jun 2013

University of Cincinnati to lead Belatacept Early Steroid withdrawal Trial

The University of Cincinnati will lead a $5.2 million national trial studying removal of both corticosteroids and common immunosuppression treatments from the post-transplant drug regimen for kidney transplant patients.

29 Nov 2012

'No malignancy risk' with biologic response modifiers

Rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologic response modifiers for at least 6 months do not have a greater risk for malignancy than those given other disease-modifying drugs or placebo, conclude US and Spanish researchers.

10 Sep 2012

Data from abatacept versus adalimumab Phase IIIb comparison study on RA

Data from one of the few head-to-head trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates that at one year, 64.8% of patients receiving abatacept (Orencia) and 63.4% of patients receiving adalimumab (Humira) achieved ACR20.

8 Jun 2012

Bristol-Myers Squibb receives FDA approval for Devens facility to produce ORENCIA

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's biologics manufacturing facility in Devens, Massachusetts for commercial production of ORENCIA.

16 May 2012

New guidelines offer guidance on how and when to switch between RA drug classes

A trend toward more aggressive treatment in patients just starting to develop rheumatoid arthritis is among the most important changes in treatment guidelines for the disease, according to updated American College of Rheumatology recommendations published today in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. The trend may proceed from emerging opinions that joint damage caused by RA is irreversible, and that early, intensive therapy better preserves physical function, quality of life and capacity to work.

2 Apr 2012

Juvenile arthritis affected kids are at a high risk of cancer: Study

A new study shows that kids with juvenile idiopathic arthritis develop cancer four times more often than children without the disease, but the treatments they receive - including biologic treatments like Enbrel - may not explain their increased risk. If confirmed, researchers say the findings should ease fears that biologic treatments known as TNF inhibitors cause cancer in children and young adults.

14 Feb 2012

Ono, Bristol-Myers Squibb partner to develop BMS-936558/ONO-4538 and ORENCIA

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., today announced an agreement to expand Bristol-Myers Squibb's territorial rights to develop and commercialize the anti-PD-1 antibody known as BMS-936558/ONO-4538, and to create a strategic alliance for the co-development and co-commercialization of ORENCIA in Japan.

21 Sep 2011

ORENCIA SC formulation receives FDA approval for treatment of adults with RA

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a subcutaneous formulation of ORENCIA (abatacept) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

30 Jul 2011

New clinical practice guidelines developed for juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The American College of Rheumatology has developed new guidelines for starting and monitoring treatments for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. These are the first JIA guidelines endorsed by the ACR, with the goal of broad acceptance within the rheumatology community.

30 Mar 2011

Phase II trial finds fostamatinib ineffective in RA patients not responsive to biologic agents

In a previous study, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who failed to respond to methotrexate were shown to experience positive results with fostamatinib disodium (R788), an oral spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor that is thought to block immune cell signaling involved with bone and cartilage destruction. In the current study, RA patients who failed to respond to biologic agents were studied.

28 Jan 2011

FDA accepts for review Bristol-Myers Squibb's ORENCIA sBLA for severe RA

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the subcutaneous formulation of ORENCIA® (abatacept), a treatment for adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) administered through an injection into the skin. Bristol-Myers Squibb submitted the sBLA to the FDA for the subcutaneous formulation of ORENCIA and received confirmation of its receipt on October 4, 2010.

7 Dec 2010

Further trials needed to determine clinical application of Abatacept in SLE

Results from a 12-month multi-center clinical trial did not show therapeutic benefit of abatacept over placebo in patients with non-life threatening systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Abatacept failed to prevent new disease flares in SLE patients tapered from corticosteroids in an analysis where mild, moderate and severe disease flares were evaluated together. Full details of the phase IIb clinical trial are published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

29 Sep 2010