Latest Drugs for managing Arthritis- Check it out

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation with more than 100 forms discovered so far. It affects over 180 million people in India having a prevalence higher than many well-known diseases such as diabetes, AIDS, and cancer. Around 14% of the Indian population takes an appointment with the doctor every year for this joint disease.

There are a host of new drugs recently added to the armamentarium of Rheumatic Diseases lately which have been recapitulated below-

1.Duzallo (lesinurad and allopurinol):

Duzallo combines two medications with complementary mechanisms of action: lesinurad, a uric acid reabsorption inhibitor, and allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. Duzallo lowers serum uric acid levels by increasing excretion and inhibiting production of uric acid.

Duzallo is specifically indicated for the treatment of hyperuricemia associated with gout in patients who have not achieved target serum uric acid levels with a medically appropriate daily dose of allopurinol alone.

The drug is available as a tablet and recommended the dose of Duzallo is one 200 mg lesinurad/300 mg allopurinol tablet per day.

Adverse effects associated with the use of Duzallo may include, headache, influenza, blood creatinine increased, gastroesophageal reflux disease and skin rash.

2.Kevzara (sarilumab) for moderate to severely active rheumatoid arthritis:

It is specifically indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).It is supplied as a solution for subcutaneous injection and may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or other conventional DMARDs. Its recommended dosage is 200 mg once every two weeks, administered as a subcutaneous injection.

3.Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib) for Hypertension and Osteoarthritis:

Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib), a calcium channel blocker and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug combination for the treatment of both hypertension and pain associated with osteoarthritis.

4.Zilretta-For osteoarthritis pan

Zilretta is an extended-release injectable suspension of triamcinolone acetonide, a short-acting corticosteroid and is specifically indicated for the management of osteoarthritis pain of the knee.

Read Also: Vitamin D improves quality of life in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients

5.Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for plaque psoriasis

The FDA has approved extending the label for Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) to include a new indication in adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Cimzia is indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. The approval makes Cimzia the first Fc-free, PEGylated anti-TNF treatment option for this indication. The approval also follows a recent FDA label update for Cimzia in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

6.Prolia (denosumab) for Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis:

The FDA has approved the use of Prolia (denosumab) for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in men and women at high risk for fracture. High risk of fracture was defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, multiple risk factors for fracture, or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.

7.Olumiant (baricitinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis:

The FDA has approved the 2-mg dose of baricitinib (Olumiant®), a once-daily oral medication for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapies. Baricitinib may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or other non-biologic DMARDs.

8. Ilumya (tildrakizumab-asmn) for Plaque Psoriasis:

It is a novel interleukin-23 inhibitor for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. The FDA has approved Ilumya (tildrakizumab-asmn) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, announced Sun Pharmaceuticals.

9.Actemra (tocilizumab) for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis:

Actemra (tocilizumab) subcutaneous formulation approved for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) in patients 2 years of age and older.

10..Celebrex (celecoxib)

Celebrex is classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), however, it is unique in its biologic action compared to previously available drugs of this class. Celecoxib blocks the enzyme that makes prostaglandins (cyclooxygenase 2), resulting in lower concentrations of prostaglandins. It is targeted to the COX-2 in a way that leaves alone the other enzyme, COX-1, and has been shown not to cause the GI ulcers to anywhere near the extent that the other NSAIDs do.

Drugs in Pipeline-The new class of drugs known as biologics have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These drugs must be given via self-injection or intravenous infusion in the doctor’s office or hospital. They are expensive and therefore researchers are working to develop oral biologics.

One such drug blocks syk kinase or spleen tyrosine kinase. Some research has suggested that this drug may work in people who do not respond to TNF blockers, a commonly used type of biologic, she says.

Another type of biologic (called a JAK inhibitor) that could be taken orally also is doing well in early trials.