Infliximab (Remicade®) Now Approved as First-Line Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved an expanded label for Infliximab (Remicade^®) in combination with methotrexate as a first line treatment in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Based on results from the ASPIRE trial, methotrexate failure is no longer required in order to initiate combination therapy with infliximab. This study demonstrated that early intervention with the combination of Infliximab plus methotrexate was superior to methotrexate alone in preventing the progression of structural damage.