New SIMPONI(TM) Data Show Inhibition of Joint Damage in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Results from Radiographic Analyses Show Efficacy of SIMPONI in Inhibiting Joint Destruction in Two Rheumatic Conditions


PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19  /PRNewswire/ -- Phase 3 data reported for the first time show that once every four week subcutaneous injections of SIMPONI(TM) (golimumab) resulted in significantly greater inhibition of structural damage compared with placebo plus methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).  Radiographic analyses showed that treatment with SIMPONI resulted in a statistically significant reduction in change from baseline in structural damage as measured using the van der Heijde-Sharp (vdH-S) scoring method, an X-ray measure of changes in joint destruction, including joint erosion and joint space narrowing.  These one-year data were presented at the 2009 American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting.

"These findings show that treatment with golimumab and methotrexate inhibited the progression of joint damage in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis," said Dr. Paul Emery, head of the Academic Unit of Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Leeds and lead study investigator.  "These data reveal important new insights into the efficacy of golimumab and its effect in altering the potential destructive nature of RA and PsA."

Rheumatoid Arthritis

At week 52 of the GOlimumab Before Employing methotrexate as the First-line Option in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis of Early onset (GO-BEFORE) trial, patients with RA receiving SIMPONI plus methotrexate had significantly less progression of structural damage compared with patients receiving placebo plus methotrexate, as measured using the vdH-S score.  With this method, higher scores indicate greater structural damage while lower scores indicate less structural damage.  The mean change (+/- standard deviation) from baseline in patients treated with SIMPONI 50 mg plus methotrexate was a 0.74 (+/- 5.23) score compared with an increase of 1.37 (+/-  4.56) score in the group receiving placebo plus methotrexate (P