Progress in the pharmacotherapy of gout.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize new knowledge on approved and emerging drugs used to treat hyperuricemia or the clinical manifestations of gout.

RECENT FINDINGS: Results of several clinical trials provide new data on the efficacy and safety of the approved urate-lowering drugs, allopurinol and febuxostat. New recommendations have been presented on appropriate dosing of colchicine for acute gout flares and potential toxicities of combining colchicine with medications such as clarithromycin. Emerging therapies, including pegloticase, the uricosuric agent RDEA596, and the interleukin-1 inhibitors, rilonacept and canakinumab, have shown promise in early and late phase clinical trials.

SUMMARY: Recent publications demonstrate an opportunity to use existing gout therapies more effectively in order to improve both efficacy and safety. Emerging therapies for gout show promise for unmet needs in selected gout populations.