Description
What Enbrel is?
Enbrel is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker indicated for the treatment of:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in patients aged 2 years or older
- Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
- Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
- Plaque Psoriasis (PsO)
What Etanercept is?
Etanercept, sold under the brand name Enbrel among others, is a biopharmaceutical that treats autoimmune diseases by interfering with tumor necrosis factor (TNF, a soluble inflammatory cytokine) by acting as a TNF inhibitor. It has U.S. F.D.A. approval to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis. TNF-alpha is the “master regulator” of the inflammatory (immune) response in many organ systems. Autoimmune diseases are caused by an overactive immune response. Etanercept has the potential to treat these diseases by inhibiting TNF-alpha.
In the United States etanercept is indicated for:
- Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) (Nov 1998)
- Moderate to Severe Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (May 1999)
- Psoriatic Arthritis (Jan 2002)
- Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) (July 2003)
- Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis (April 2004)
