Ten-year drug survival of anti-TNF agents in the treatment of inflammatory arthritides

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapies (anti-TNFs) are used routinely as first-line biotherapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA: psoriatic arthritis [PsA] and ankylosing spondylitis [AS]) in patients who have failed traditional non-biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). However, about 30% of patients experience failure of first-line anti-TNF agent because of inefficacy or adverse events. This study analyzed long-term anti-TNFα drug survival in a clinical practice setting. The overall 10-year retention rate of first-line anti-TNF agent is about 23%, being significantly higher for SpA compared with RA patients. ETN is the most persistent anti-TNF with a drug survival rate significantly higher than IFX and ADA.

Keywords: anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF); drug survival; inflammatory arthritides.