Fostamatinib at the ACR 2012 in Washington

New data from the EULAR 2013 at: http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2013/06/fostamatinib-at-eular-2013.html

Concerning fostamatinib (a SYK inhibitor), how far have we come during the time since EULAR 2012? Any date for launching the drug? Look for details already presented at the EULAR 2012: http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2012/07/fostamatinib-at-eular-2012.html

I was quite surprised seeing a rat CIA study on fostamatinib by Polly Pine et al. (Abstract No. 329): “The SYK Inhibitor, Fostamatinib, Administered Alone or in Combination with Methotrexate in Rat Collagen-Induced Arthritis, Reduces Bone Erosions, Biomarkers of Cartilage/Bone Destruction, and Synovial Osteoclastogenic Cytokines.” Conclusion: “Fostamatinib significantly reduced the severity of established rat CIA, had modest additional improvement [my italics] with co-administered MTX, and was superior to MTX alone. These results indicate that fostamatinib may have potential therapeutic benefits for both the inflammatory synovitis and bone erosions of CIA. Fostamatinib is currently in Phase III trials for RA.” This doesn’t sound convincing and if it isn’t convincing in rats, what about humans? I had already voiced my suspicions before, though there’s nothing wrong with this study, it doesn’t convince me of the drug.

And there has been nothing more at the ACR 2012 meeting! Perhaps asking for a date, when fostamatinib is to be launched, was a bit premature. I ask myself if there really is any drug in sight!