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Etanercept review
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Etanercept is called a fusion protein drug, which is cultivated through the expression of recombinant DNA. The production of etanercept is accomplished through a large-scale cell cutting and cloning in order to express the DNA recombinant construct.
Etanercept, marketed under its brand name Enbrel, is indicated for the reduction of the notable signs and symptoms as well as major responses of moderate to sever active rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used for the alleviation of symptoms of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Apart from this, etanercept is also used for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Etanercept comes in prefilled syringes or autoinjectors. The prefilled syringes have dosage strengths available in 25mg (0.51mL of a 50mg/L solution of etanercept) and 50 mg (0.98mL of a 50mg/L solution of etanercept)
Etanercept autoinjectors have dosage strengths available at 50 mg (0.98 mL of a 50 mg/mL etanercept solution).
The recommended dosage of etanercept is at 50mg a day, and is given via subcutaneous injection. The usual 50mg dose may be give at two shots of 25mg. It could be given either on the same day, or for 3 to 4 days apart. The injection sites should be given notice. Never inject on tender, bruised or hard areas. There should be a rotation in the injection sites.
Common side effects include reactions in the injection sites. Such reactions include itching, pain, swelling and erythema. They are the most common and least serious of the side effects reported.
Another common side effect found in etanercept use was upper respiratory tract infections, ranging from sinusitis, bronchitis, sepsis and pneumonia among others. Other side effects reported include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
More serious side effects such as the reactivation of certain viruses (specifically Hepatitis B) has been reported in some patients who were found out to be chronic carriers of the virus. This has been found out to occur in some patients concomitantly taking medications that suppress the immune system. Patients with known psoriasis sometimes may lead to the worsening of the condition due to etanercept use.
Etanercept is contraindicated for patients with known sepsis or hypersensitivity to etanercept and its known components.
Patients with sepsis should exercise caution upon the use of the drug as serious infections may occur. Serious problems and sometimes even fatalities have occurred in patients concomitantly using etanercept and immunosuppressive therapy drugs, which lowers the immune systems, predisposing them to various infections.
The doctor, prior to prescribing the drug, needs a detailed medical history of the patient. Patients with known histories of tuberculosis, hepatitis B and other retro-virus infections should exercise caution with the use of etanercept as the drug may cause a reactivation of the virus strain.
The use of etanercept and other TNF-blocking agents have found out to be a likely cause in the reactivation of tuberculosis in some patients.
Although etanercept has no known clinical effects in the fetus, pregnant women should consult their doctor prior to the usage of the drug. The potential benefits of the drug must be weighed against its posed risks. The drug should only be used by pregnant women when clearly needed.
It is not clear as to whether etanercept is excreted in breast milk, hence nursing mothers must also exercise caution upon the usage of the drug.
• Molecular formula of etanercept is C2224H3475N621O698S36
• Molecular weight is 51234.9 g/mol
• Etanercept available : 25mg tablets and 50mg tablets
Brand name(s): Enbrel
Review published on: 04 August 2009
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