Enbrel/Remicade Safety

Enbrel® (etanercept) and Remicade® (infliximab) are treatments indicated for certain serious autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and other related conditions. According to the manufacturers, over 400,000 people worldwide have used Enbrel and over 840,000 have used Remicade. These products work by reducing excess amounts of a protein called TNF, which stimulates the immune system. However, these treatments, which are effective in only about half of the patients, may also lower the body’s ability to fight infections, a condition called immunosuppression, which in some patients leads to dangerous and life threatening complications. We are planning a discovery project to identify biomarkers that can be used to monitor patients receiving Enbrel or Remicade for early signs of immunosuppression.