Leflunomide. me

Leflunomide History Flashback:

Arava (leflunomide) was unanimously recommended by the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) arthritis advisory committee to treat active rheumatoid arthritis in august, 1998 and fully approved on September 11, 1998.

At that time, leflunomide (brand name Arava) became the first new disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) aimed to treat of rheumatoid arthritis in more than ten years’ period.

Leflunomide Tests

Prior to being recommended and approved, leflunomide has been tested against other widely used rheumatoid arthritis medications, such as methotrexate. Over 480 americans with moderate rheumatoid arthritis participated in the tests. As a result, about 41 % of patients taking Arava (leflunomide) achieved improvement in their physical condition against only 19 % of those treated by placebo. Patients taking methotrexate experienced approximately the same effect as those thaking Arava (leflunomide).
X-rays examination of the patients’ joints revealed that with Arava (leflunomide) arthritis progressed for times as slowly as with placebo. Methotrexate proved to be more effective is slowing arthritis progression than placebo, but not as effective as Arava (leflunomide).
Another “pro” was that Arava (leflunomide) side effects were reversible and not severe, compared to methotrexate which was associated with the risk kidney failure in some cases. In addition, methotrexate lost effectiveness over time. Such difference was observed because Arava (leflunomide) and methotrexate target different enzymes while suppressing the overactive immune system. However, the basic principle of work remains the same – suppressing an overactive immune system.
Arava (leflunomide) proved to be more safe an effective than other rheumatoid arthritis drugs.