title: Iguratimod for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Japan.
abstract: Iguratimod (IGU), a small-molecule compound, was developed as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in Japan. The pharmacological studies showed that inhibition of the production of cytokines and immunoglobulins mainly contributes to its improvement effect on animal arthritis models. The first clinical study of IGU in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis was started in 1992 and Phase III studies were started in 1998. From the results of Phase II studies, a dose-escalating regimen was recommended to relieve the side effects. In a double-blind study comparing the efficacy and safety of the drug with those of placebo and salazosulfapyridine, it was confirmed that IGU was superior to placebo and was not inferior to salazosulfapyridine. Furthermore, a double-blind controlled trial of IGU in combination with methotrexate revealed an efficacious and manageable safety profile. IGU would be widely used as a new option for rheumatoid arthritis treatment and combination drug with methotrexate.
authors: Research Laboratories, Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd., Toyama 930-8508, Japan.
authors: Keiichi
authors: K
authors: Tanaka
authors: Tomonobu
authors: T
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Masako
authors: M
authors: Hara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002867:Chromones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D002867:Chromones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides; C519076:iguratimod; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: DMARD; T-614; iguratimod; rheumatoid arthritis