The drug, ACTH, has been clinically available for many years as ACTHar gel and works well for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, polymyositis and sarcoid. Because it was an “orphan drug” used for infantile paralysis and seizures, it was essentially unaffordable. The manufacturer now provides it at no cost, in some cases; some insurance companies cover it as well. A presentation on ACTHar gel was made this month, June 2019, at the European League Against RA (EULAR) annual meeting. Ask your rheumatologist if this drug is appropriate for you.
Repository Corticotropin Injection Appears To Be Generally Safe, Effective In Patients With Persistently Active RA Who Are Nonresponsive To DMARDs Or Corticosteroids, Study Suggests MedPage Today (6/17, Susman) reports, “Repository corticotropin injection (H.P. Acthar Gel) appeared to be generally safe and effective in patients with persistently active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were nonresponsive to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or corticosteroids,” research indicated. The findings “of the manufacturer-sponsored study” were presented at the EULAR 2019 Congress.
