The soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor etanercept: a new strategy for the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe, debilitating condition for which existing therapies are of limited efficacy. In addition, the most common structure of treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis has recently been called into question, and many believe it should be reversed so that stronger treatments are administered earlier in the progression of the disease. Pivotal to the changes in rheumatoid arthritis treatment is the introduction of the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists. Overexpression of cytokines in inflamed joints plays an important role in joint inflammation and tissue damage, and the place of cytokines in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis has offered hope that their antagonism will reduce symptoms and slow the advancement of the condition. With this in mind, etanercept, a fully human soluble TNF receptor fusion protein, was developed. The potency of this novel drug in blocking TNF activity has been shown in animal models and in clinical trials. The latter have demonstrated a positive safety profile and efficacy in reducing pain and the number of tender and swollen joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The effects of etanercept have also been observed soon after administration and have been sustained over several years. Etanercept has offered encouragement for those seeking new, more efficacious and less toxic methods of treating rheumatoid arthritis in children, adults and the elderly. In addition to the treatment of adult and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, etanercept has also demonstrated utility in treating ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.