Biological therapies for inflammatory rheumatic diseases
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biological therapies for inflammatory rheumatic diseases: predicting sustained dose reduction
IRAS ID
184004
Contact name
Christopher J Edwards
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, has been revolutionized by the introduction of targeted biological therapies. A large body of clinical research and NICE guidance supports the use of these therapies. The most common of these are the TNF inhibitors such as infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept; with B-cell depletion, co-stimulation inhibition and IL-6 inhibition being used by other biological therapies. We will analyse and publish the results of data collected as part of standard NHS care for patients in a biological therapy clinic in Southampton to describe current use of these treatments and to assess patients satisfaction with these therapies. In particular we would like to assess if current strategies for dose reduction of these therapies are appropriate.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0276
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion