Developments in Chronic Pain Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent controversy about the safety of pain relievers for arthritis and other chronic diseases have many worried. Some prescriptions that arthritis sufferers have depended on for years, Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex, remain on the shelf, but now require warning labels based on concerns about patient safety.

A new fact revealed in a recent poll is that more than half of arthritis sufferers in the United States have reduced or stopped their medications after being alerted to these safety concerns. But, stopping medication is not a viable option for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers with persistent and debilitating pain, according to Dr. Simon Pedder, president and CEO of Chelsea Therapeutics.

"Rheumatoid arthritis patients should discuss their concerns with their physicians and make decisions about adjusting their drug regime together," says Dr. Pedder.

Concerns about the safety of a broad range of pain management medications -- Cox-2 inhibitors and Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS) and their safety profiles heighten the discussion about patient wellbeing. "One reason for our concern about Methotrexate (MTX), the most widely prescribed DMARD for RA, is its safety profile. Its side effects on liver enzymes can be dangerous and require frequent and expensive visits to a doctor for monitoring," continues Pedder.

Chelsea Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceuticals company, is developing a proprietary novel therapeutic for RA-CH-1504 -- that may slow progression of RA safely and provide patients with sorely needed relief.

Moderate to severe RA usually requires long term use of medications such as Methotrexate. However, the benefits of MTX are often offset by the drug's high toxicity. One advantage of CH-1504 is a much lower toxicity profile vs. MTX.

An independent six-month trial of Chelsea's proprietary compound on 20 patients showed it to be more effective and produce fewer side effects than Methotrexate. "Our potential new treatment seeks to reduce signs and symptoms and improve physical function in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. And that," indicates Pedder, "may just help RA sufferers get back to participating in activities they enjoy."

The 2.1 million Americans suffering from RA, a progressive inflammatory disease causing pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints, should be aware of all the aspects of current pain relievers they may be taking before stopping or switching medications.

For more information on RA and treatments in the pipeline, log on to Chelseatherapeutics.com.

Source: Chelsea Therapeutics

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see also:

FDA Q&A Dec 04 Bextra Lawyers - FDA Questions and Answers Dec 2004
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FDA Press Release Bextra - FDA Press Release: Bextra Recall, Celebrex Black Box Warning
Bextra lawyer-The FDA Bextra Recall and the Celebrex Black Box Warning

About the Bextra Recall Bextra lawyers - about the FDA Bextra recall
Bextra Withdrawal: Letter to clients about the FDA Bextra recall