Etanercept

Etanercept is a protein comprised of the extracellular domains of two TNF receptors attached to a Fc portion of an IgG. Etanercept was approved for not only reducing signs and symptoms but inhibiting of structural damage in patients with active RA who had an inadequate response to one or more DMARDs. Moreover, combination therapy with methotrexate will be attractive for severely active patients. The proportion of patients who have discontinued therapy due to adverse events is approximately 4%. Etanercept has not raised the risk for serious infections(0.04/patient-year) as well as malignancies. There are sporadic case reports of aplastic anemia, demyelination, lupus-like conditions, which are not significant so far. Etanercept may contribute rheumatologists to manage patients with RA.