According to a story from globenewswire.com, Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences, Inc., recently announced that two clinical trials which were recently published in The Lancet demonstrated that the experimental treatment filgotinib could be an effective treatment option for patients with ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis. These results represent a potential new treatment for these illnesses and suggests that the drug could also be effective in order inflammatory disorders as well.
About Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory, chronic arthritis which is most characterized by severe swelling of the digits, nail damage, and skin problems characteristic of psoriasis. Other symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, severe fatigue, and lower back pain. The cause of psoriatic arthritis is poorly understood but it is believed that certain genetic factors play a decisive role. Treatment usually includes a variety of medications to control inflammation and prevent permanent damage to the joints.
About Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis which affects the joints of the spine and pelvis. It is related to other forms of arthritis and may appear alongside them. Symptoms include back pain, fatigue, fever, weight loss, stiffness, and eye inflammation. This disease appears to have a mostly genetic basis, and people with the HLA-B27 genotype are more likely to be affected. Treatment includes a number of medications, surgery, and physical therapy.
Filgotinib in Psoriatic Arthritis
The studies demonstrated the filgotinib could alleviate symptoms of psoriatic arthritis in patients that had not responded to prior therapies. This trial included a total of 131 adult patients and the therapy was able to achieve a response rate substantially higher than placebo. Patients were given a 200mg dose of filgotinib during this clinical trial. Read the original study info here.
Filgotinib in Ankylosing Spondylitis
The drug was also effective in ankylosing spondylitis. All patients in this trial were also adults and were given a 200mg dose. Most patients saw a substantial reduction in disease activity compared to placebo while using filgotinib. This investigational treatment also had a favorable safety profile. Most adverse events were mild or moderate and only 31 percent of patients reported them. The rate of adverse events was also similar between the drug recipients and the placebo group. Read the original study here.
