Kaitlyn D’Onofrio

DocwireNews

Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have achieved remission following combination methotrexate plus etanercept, monotherapy with etanercept was superior to methotrexate, according to a study.&ldquo;These data could inform decision&#8208;making when withdrawal of therapy is being considered to reduce treatment burden in patients with <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/rheum-round-up-dr-nowell-discusses-most-important-pros-for-rheumatology-pts-adalimumab-vs-biosimilar-and-more/">well&#8208;controlled RA</a>,&rdquo; the researchers concluded.The Study of Etanercept and Methotrexate in Combination or as Monotherapy in Subjects with Rheumatoid Arthritis (SEAM&#8208;RA) initially included 371 adults with RA received combination methotrexate plus etanercept therapy. Of these patients, 253 achieved and sustained remission (Simplified Disease Activity Index [SDAI] score &le;3.3) over a 24-week, open-label period and were included in a 48-week, double-blind period, at which time they were randomized to receive either methotrexate monotherapy (n=101), etanercept monotherapy (n=101), or combination methotrexate plus etanercept (n=51). If patients experienced disease-worsening they were given rescue therapy. The main outcome was the proportion of patients who maintained SDAI-defined remission, without their disease worsening, at week 48 between the etanercept versus methotrexate monotherapy groups; secondary outcomes were time to disease-worsening and the proportion of patients who recaptured SDAI-defined remission following rescue therapy.At 48 weeks, patients in the etanercept monotherapy group were much more likely to have maintained SDAI-defined remission compared to those in the methotrexate monotherapy group (49.5% vs. 28.7%; P=0.004). A much greater proportion of patients receiving combination therapy achieved and sustained SDAI-defined remission compared to those on methotrexate monotherapy (52.9% vs. 28.7%; P=0.006). Patients in the methotrexate monotherapy group had a shorter time to disease-worsening compared to those in both the etanercept monotherapy and combination therapy groups (each P&lt;0.001 versus methotrexate monotherapy). In each group, a high proportion of patients who were given rescue therapy successfully re-achieved SDAI-defined remission.The study was published in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.41589">Arthritis &amp; Rheumatology</a>.&ldquo;Overall, the results of the SEAM&#8208;RA study provide information on the likelihood of success of discontinuing methotrexate and can inform general decision&#8208;making around RA treatment strategies. These results may be of particular interest to physicians and patients concerned about adverse events, such as nausea and fatigue, and long&#8208;term safety issues associated with methotrexate,&rdquo; the researchers wrote in their conclusion.

Bradley Marder, MD

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

Gout Studies: Transplant Waitlisting and Bone Erosion

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Jayme Locke, MD, MPH

The Promise of Xenotransplantation

Leah Lawrence

Real-World Data Backs Invasive DFS as Surrogate Endpoint for OS in EBC

HR Breast Cancer

Latest News

Etanercept vs. Methotrexate: How Do These Drugs Compare in RA Patients in Remission?

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have achieved remission following combination methotrexate plus etanercept, monotherapy with etanercept was superior to ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HER2 Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe