Golimumab (Simponi ®) is the latest TNF-a inhibitor approved by the FDA for treating ankylosing spondylitis.

An in depth article published in the journal Formulary looks at how golimumab should be administered, dosing and looks at studies done on the drug.

From the article: "Golimumab is available as a single-use prefilled syringe or autoinjector (a device designed to mechanically deliver a single dose of medication on initiation) providing 50 mg per 0.5 mL of solution. The drug must be refrigerated and protected from light inside its carton until the time of use. Thirty minutes before injection, the prefilled syringe or autoinjector must be removed from the carton and allowed to sit at room temperature to warm the solution. Golimumab should not be warmed in any other manner. The solution should be visually inspected before injection and should be clear or slightly opalescent and colorless to light yellow. If the solution is cloudy or discolored or if visual particles are present, the solution should not be used.

Golimumab is approved for use as a single SC 50-mg dose every 4 weeks. Injection sites should be rotated and injections avoided in areas where skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard. For patients with RA, golimumab should be administered in combination with MTX; for patients with PsA or AS, golimumab can be used with or without MTX or other nonbiologic DMARDs. No dosage adjustments are necessary for patients with renal or hepatic insufficiency."

To read the the article click here.

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