ANAKINRA IS A RECOMBINANT RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST OF INTERLEUKIN-1, AN INFLAMMATORY MEDIATOR FOUND IN THE PLASMA AND SYNOVIAL FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.
ANAKINRA IS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MODERATE TO SEVERELY ACTIVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD AN INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO METHOTREXATE OR ANOTHER DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUG (DMARD) ALONE (BUT SEE). IN THE UK, IT SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN WITH METHOTREXATE; HOWEVER, IN THE USA, IT MAY BE GIVEN EITHER ALONE OR WITH ANOTHER DMARD, ALTHOUGH NOT ONE THAT INHIBITS TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR (SEE INTERACTIONS).