Antares announces availability of injectable methotrexate product for arthritis, psoriasis

EWING, N.J. — A new drug for autoimmune diseases from Antares Pharma that the company calls the first of its kind is now available, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Antares announced the availability of Otrexup for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in adults and polyarticular idiopathic arthritis in children. The company said the drug is the first Food and Drug Administration-approved subcutaneous methotrexate product for once-weekly self-administration. Otrexup, which the FDA approved in October, is available with a single-dose auto injector.

"Otrexup provides an attractive new option that may benefit patients who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of oral [methotrexate]," Antares president and CEO Paul Wotton said. "Otrexup is an easy-to-use auto injector that delivers greater blood levels of medication than oral MTX. Otrexup could extend the use and benefits of MTX and potentially delay or avoid the use of other more expensive treatment options in some patients."