Amgen 2001 Annual Report Download - page 20

Inflammation has been a target of
Amgen’s research programs for more
than a decade. The company has launched
its first therapeutic specifically targeted
at inflammation and the disease most
commonly associated with its destruc-
tive effects, rheumatoid arthritis. In
November 2001, Kineret
™
was approved
in the United States for use in adult
patients with moderate to severe rheu-
matoid arthritis unresponsive to other
drug treatments.
Rheumatoid arthritis commonly
involves painful inflammation of small
and large joints. As the disease progresses,
inflamed cells that line the joints may
invade and damage bone and cartilage,
while inflammatory proteins stimulate
the release of enzymes that actually digest
bone and cartilage. This produces a
change in shape and alignment of the
joint, along with pain and loss of mobil-
ity. Many rheumatoid arthritis patients
become progressively disabled and
experience decreased life expectancy.
Of particular importance in the treat-
ment of rheumatoid arthritis, the most
rapid deterioration of joint function
often occurs within the first few years of
the disease. This leaves a small window
of opportunity for intervention before
irreversible damage can occur. Yet it’s
estimated that more than half of all people
suffering from the condition remain
undiagnosed or do not seek treatment.
The precise causes of the overactive
inflammatory process are not fully under-
stood but several components of the
immune system are implicated. One
of these is interleukin-1, one of a class
of proteins called cytokines that deliver
chemical messages between cells. An
excess of interleukin-1 has been shown
to play an important role in the inflam-
mation and joint destruction associated
with rheumatoid arthritis.
Kineret
™
, a biologically derived
therapeutic, represents an important new
option for the reduction of signs and
symptoms associated with rheumatoid
arthritis. A recombinant form of a
naturally occurring human protein that
regulates the cytokine interleukin-1,
Kineret
™
binds to the same cellular
receptors as the cytokine, in effect block-
ing it and neutralizing its harmful effect
in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Kineret
™
binds to the
same cellular receptors as
interleukin-1, neutralizing
the cytokine’s harmful effect
in the overactive inflamma-
tory process that occurs in
patients with rheumatoid
arthritis.
Amgen’s first therapeutic
targeted at inflammation,
Kineret
™
has been approved
for use in the United States
among patients with moder-
ately to severely active
rheumatoid arthritis.
18