Etanercept - Arthritides - Monoclonal Antibodies in Anti inflammatory Therapy

Etanercept

Etanercept is a dimeric soluble fusion protein com-posed of parts of the ligand binding regions of the p75 high-affinity type 2 TNF receptor (which binds both TNF-a and TNF-b ) linked to parts of the IgG₁ Fc regions; it does not induce complement-mediated lysis of cells expressing TNF on their surface. Etanercept is FDA approved for use in patients with moderately to severely active RA (either used alone or in combina-tion with methotrexate), as well as in polyarticular JRA, PsA, AS, and PP. For adult patients with RA, PsA, or AS the recommended dose of etanercept is 50 mg SC weekly, given either as one 50 mg injection or as two 25 mg injections on the same day or up to 4 days apart (package insert for Enbrel, 2006).