First-line therapy for RA found to ‘lack efficacy’ in one-third of patients

But rheumatologists often prescribe a similar drug second-line, Australian research shows
Clare Pain
doctor writing script

Nearly half of Australian patients initiated on a biologic or targeted synthetic drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fail to stay on the therapy, with more than one-third (37%) stopping within six months, a study shows.

Lack of efficacy is the predominant reason doctors take patients off the medication, and this happens in 36% of cases, researchers say.