Clinical evaluation of PNF-21 (prednisolone farnesyrate) on rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Well-controlled comparative study with Mobilat.

In the treatment of RA, if only rubbing a drug into the inflammation area makes it possible to suppress the symptoms instead of systemic dosing of steroids, such external steroid will be probably useful. Because it doesn't produce side effects due to systemic dosing of steroids.PNF-21 is an external steroid percutaneously absorbed that has been developed from the viewpoint above mentioned.The therapeutic effects of PNF-21 were compared with those of Mobilat in 189 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Both drugs formulations are rubbed into affected area in 3-4 times per day, and applied for 4 weeks.The results of this study are summarized as follows :1) PNF-21 showed significant superiority to Mobilat in“final improvement rating”. Improvement rating was 50.0% (40/80) for PNF-21 and 27.4% (23/84) for Mobilat in terms of“moderate”plus“marked”improvement category.2) The incidence of an adverse reaction was noted as 1.1% (1/92) of PNF-21 and 3.1% (3/96) of Mobilat. But, the abnormal laboratory finding was not observed.3) The item evaluated, “global utility rating”showed significant superiority of PNF-21 to Mobilat. The utility rating was calculated as 48.8% (39/80) of PNF-21 and 27.1% (23/85) of Mobilat in terms of“moderately”plus“markedly”useful category.4) Side effects were observed in patient (1.1%) of PNF-21 and 3 patients (3.1%) of Mobilat. All of these symptoms disappeared by symptomatic treatment or discontinued test drugs.All the above results indicate that PNF-21 is more useful than Mobilat. Therefore, PNF-21 is judged as a highly useful anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of rheu-matoid arthritis.