Godlimumab?

I'm back in hospital and it's looking likely that I will fail Remicade. I've already failed Humira and Imuran so I'm running out of options. My GI just told me about a new drug that's just been approved here in Australia called Godlimumab but I've never heard of it before. Has anyone else tried this yet or know if it has good success rates? Is it another TNF alpha inhibitor like remicade or something different? I didn't have time to talk to my GI about it further as his pager went off for an emergency and he had to rush off to surgery! Everyone seems so knowledgeable here so i thought I would ask you guys instead

Ah that' doesn't sound too promising then if it's the same kind of drug. I didn't respond to Humira at all and my tough levels came back low on remicade but they didn't test for antibodies. Although I'm about 50% better on it, I still can't manage without pred. I've been on it since February, on the max dose the Australian government will allow (but I can ask the company for 2 compassionate doses per year) so we are going to give it a top up in hospital and see how I go but it's not looking good. I'm not really feeling any difference between the week before my infusion to the week after, it's like I've plateaued.

What about Cyclosporine with 6-mp? They’re both older meds and are less expensive than the biologicals.

I’d try a different mechanism than the anti-tnf, additional ones will not be effective if you’ve failed two of them.

Imuran metabolizes into 6mp within your body. Taking 6mp saves a step.

Cyclosporine is like prednisone, a temporary rescue medication.

1. Remicade/humira/simponi are all tnf-alpha blockers, very similar meds and prescribed based on patient/doctor preference.

2. Xeljanz is a jak-inhibitor. Completely different than 1, 3 or 4.

3. Entyvio is a madcam1-blocker. Completely different than 1, 2 or 4.

4. Stelera targets regulatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-23. Completely different than 1, 2 or 3.

Generally you want to try at least 2 different classes of biologics with different mechanisms of action before considering a surgery. So far you've tried only one class. As there's a point of diminishing returns after failing two classes. Can a third sometimes work? Yes it can happen, some here were rescued by a third but your chance of success drops considerably after failing a second.

Ipoop thanks for that info, it is very helpful. it is interesting to hear that stalera works differently. I will ask my gi about trying this next instead of simponi if he is hesitant to go down the entyvio path (I'm guessing he hasn't had much luck from it with his other patients). Perhaps because I have had some relief from infliximab he is keen to try another tnf alpha blocker. I will have to work out why he is making the decisions he is regarding my treatment as I didn't get much chance yesterday.

Suzy-q I have read your husbands story and after his positive results I asked my gi if I could try this next but unfortunately in Australia it is not approved for uc yet, only RA. Apparently we are usually a few years behind America with the release of these drugs. I'm glad your husband is still doing well and hopes he continues this way.