Setting the gol after Remicade

Remicade infliximab was the first anti-TNF agent to come to market, and while sales continue to grow, there is now competition from two other anti-TNFs: Enbrel etanercept and Humira adalimumab. Johnson & Johnson is hoping that its golimumab will be a second generation product with improved efficacy and the dosing flexibility to be given IV or subcutaneously.

Enbrel was the first of the anti-TNFs approved for rheumatoid arthritis in 1998, but partners Amgen Inc. (AMGN, Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Wyeth (WYE, Madison, N.J.) were hampered by manufacturing issues (see BioCentury, Nov. 19, 2001). Enbrel's loss was Remicade's gain, as it was able to grab a significant market share following its approval for Crohn's disease in 1998 and for RA a year after. Remicade is marketed by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP, Kenilworth, N.J.)...