Immunex and Wyeth initiate RA trial

Immunex and Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories are to sponsor a new10,000-patient trial, called RADIUS (Rheumatoid Arthritis DMARD Intervention and Utilization Study) which is designed to gain more information about RA treatment practice patterns, tolerability of RA therapy and the efficacy of current disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologic response modifiers. The first part of the trial, RADIUS 1, is due to begin later this year and involves patients who require an introduction of a new DMARD to RA therapy. RADIUS 2 will study additional RA patients who will begin new treatment with Immunex' Enbrel (etanercept), a drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration three years ago for the reduction of symptoms in moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have not responded well to one or more DMARD. RADIUS 2 is expected to begin next year when additional supplies of Enbrel become available.