Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis previously treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs but with insufficient response, a non-TNF biologic agent was more effective in achieving a good or moderate disease activity response at 24 weeks than was a second anti-TNF medication, according to a study appearing in JAMA.
Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors have improved the quality of life for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who show insufficient response to the agent methotrexate. However, as many as one-third of patients have persistent disease activity and insufficient response to anti-TNF agents, and there is little guidance on choosing the next treatment.
