# New treatment for rheumatoid arthritis?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-treatment-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/157097>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 24, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-treatment-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/157097 "2003-02-24T04:56:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-treatment-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/157097/1 "2003-02-24T04:56:49Z")

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Recently in another thread, **tomndebb** wrote,

> [@](#):
>
> For example, as recently as five years ago, Rheumatoid Arthritis was treated (basically) with aspirin plus the advice that the patient should resign themselves to a life of suffering. In the last couple of years, a new drug therapy has provided a very large number of RA sufferers with a significant reduction in pain and a nearly complete restoration of movement. However, the therapy costs $10,000 per year.

My uncle has bad RA and it is spoiling his life. What can you tell me about this, the name of the treatment and the % of patients helped, and any side effects? Is there some reason his doctor may not have discussed this with him? Is it still experimental?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-treatment-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/157097/2 "2003-02-24T06:01:55Z")

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Enbrel is on the market, and it’s a freakin’ miracle. If your doctor hasn’t discussed it, it’s either because he knows your uncle can’t afford it or because he’s an idiot.

[http://www.enbrel.com](http://www.enbrel.com)

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-treatment-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/157097/3 "2003-02-24T06:27:27Z")

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I’m pretty sure that **Nametag** has it right. I had only encountered a reference to it in a speech in the last week by the CEO of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (noted on the botom of the linked page as one of the marketing companies of Enbrel). The $10,000 per year figure was quoted by the CEO, Robert Essner.