MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'cimzia'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:00:47 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006555&cid=t_179548_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Funderstanding-biologics-how-they-differ-from-drugs-and-why-they-cost-more%2F Many of our readers either already have or will in the future encounter the possibility of being treated with a biologic medication. This is because biologics have revolutionized the treatment of such chronic illnesses as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, and are widely used in treating a variety of cancers. To name just a few, these products include Enbrel, Humira, Remicade (infliximab), Avonex (inteferon beta-1a), Betaseron (interferon beta-1b), Tysabri, Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), Herceptin (trastuzumab), Rituxan (rituximab), Neupogen (filgrastim), Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and Leukine (sargramostim). So just what are biologics, how do they differ from more traditional drugs, and why are they so expensive?Although some b... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006555 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:06:00 +0100 2006555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1769135&cid=t_179548_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F383351047%2F The agency say the manufacturers of Humira, Cimzia, Enbrel, and Remicade must strengthen existing warnings in the prescribing info and medication guides due to risks of developing histoplasmosis, an opportunistic fungal infection. Most of the cases in the Ohio River and Mississippi River valleys and in at least 21 of those, the infection wasn’t initially recognized. Twelve patients died. The four drugs, known as tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers, or TNF-inhibitors, which suppress the immune system, are approved to treat such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, and Crohn’s disease. Humira is made by Abbott; Cimzia is made by UCB; Enbrel is sold by Amgen and Remicade is sold by Johnso... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1769135 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:48:11 +0100 1769135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1494559&cid=t_179548_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F304588986%2F The agency is conducting a safety review of Enbrel, Humira, Cimzia and Remicade for a possible association with lymphoma and other cancers in children and young adults who have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Crohn’s disease. So far, the FDA has received 30 reports over the past 10 years, and about half of the cancers were lymphomas and included both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The FDA notes that the drugs suppress the immune system by blocking the activity of TNF, a substance in the body that can cause inflammation and lead to immune system-related diseases such as JIA, and Crohn’s disease. And the agency has been aware of the possible association between the use of TNF blockers and the development of cancer - prescribing info for all four TNF blockers warns about... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1494559 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:40:38 +0100 1494559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1402141&cid=t_179548_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F278464653%2Fcimzia_approved_by_fda_to_trea.html The U.S Food and Drug Administration has approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for the treatment of moderate to serve Crohn's disease in adults who have not responded to other therapies."Crohn's is a debilitating disease that disrupts the quality of life for its sufferers," said Julie Beitz, M.D., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III for the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "This drug works to reduce the signs and symptoms of Crohn's, but it also carries risks that will require patients on it to be closely monitored by their physicians or other health care professionals."Cimzia is to be given, by injection, every two weeks for the first 3 injections and once the medication's benefit has been established patients are to receive t... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1402141 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:00:49 +0100 1402141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1396459&cid=t_179548_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcimzia-approved-for-crohns-disease%2F The FDA has granted approval of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) as the fourth biologic agent for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Cimzia, like Remicade (infliximab) and Humira (adalimumab), is an antibody that blocks the action of TNF (tumor necrosis factor), a pro-inflammatory chemical known to play a central role in causing the pathology of a variety of inflammatory disorders including Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Tysabri (natalizumab), the fourth biologic for Crohn’s, is also an antibody, but it works by blocking the action of certain types of white blood cells that are involved in the inflammatory process. Cimzia received approval for treating adults with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease who have not responded to conventional therapies. Al... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1396459 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:28:04 +0100 1396459