FDA approves Amgen's Kineret

The FDA granted marketing approval for AMGN's Kineret anakinra IL-1 receptor antagonist to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults who have failed 1 or more disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) alone or in combination with non-TNF blocking DMARDs. AMGN is launching the product, which will cost $924 for 4 weeks of treatment. Kineret is given in 100 mg subcutaneous doses once daily. AMGN said the product's price represents a slight discount to other marketed biologics for RA, including Enbrel etanercept soluble TNF inhibitor from Immunex (IMNX) and Remicade infliximab anti-TNF antibody from Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). ...