title: Abatacept: a novel treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that has traditionally been treated with non-biologic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Although these agents have become firmly established as effective RA treatments, some patients do not have an adequate response. The recent approval of abatacept, a first-in-class agent that selectively modulates the activation of T cells, offers an alternative therapeutic option. As reflected in pharmacokinetic analyses, abatacept 10 mg/kg has been shown to be effective in treating patients with established RA. Demonstrating safety, efficacy and quality of life improvements in a wide range of RA patients, including those with inadequate response to methotrexate or tumor necrosis factor antagonists, abatacept is seen as a valuable addition to the RA treatment armamentarium.
authors.affiliation: Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. Lundquist_LM@mercer.edu
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lundquist
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069594:Abatacept