The lack of efficacy and the heightened risk of malignancy seen in the trial also have potential implications for the use of other TNF blocking agents in Wegener's granulomatosis; in rheumatoid vasculitis, where patients might have received etanercept previously and now require cyclophosphamide; and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, many of whom have been previously treated with cyclophosphamide and now may be being given an anti-TNF drug, he said.
Ongoing follow-up from WGET, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Orphan Products, and Amgen, is underway. Dr. Stone stated that he had no financial conflicts to disclose.