Rheumatoid arthritis patients taking Wyeth's Enbrel 'keep working for longer'

Patients receiving US drug major Wyeth's Enbrel (etanercept) in combination with methotrexate for early rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to continue working, according to the COMET study published today in Rheumatology.

One year results from the COMET study - which compared the impact of methotrexate alone with methotrexate in combination with Enbrel on work productivity - showed that active early RA patients receiving the combination were nearly three times less likely to stop working compared to patients receiving methotrexate alone. Furthermore, work absenteeism was reduced by almost 50% in the combination group.

RA is a chronic and progressive disease that affects 2.9 million people across Europe. As the disease progresses, RA can cause permanent damage to the joints, resulting in deformity and loss of independence.