Etanercept is a protein comprised of the extracellular domains of two TNF 
receptors attached to a Fc portion of an IgG. Etanercept was approved for not 
only reducing signs and symptoms but inhibiting of structural damage in patients 
with active RA who had an inadequate response to one or more DMARDs. Moreover, 
combination therapy with methotrexate will be attractive for severely active 
patients. The proportion of patients who have discontinued therapy due to 
adverse events is approximately 4%. Etanercept has not raised the risk for 
serious infections(0.04/patient-year) as well as malignancies. There are 
sporadic case reports of aplastic anemia, demyelination, lupus-like conditions, 
which are not significant so far. Etanercept may contribute rheumatologists to 
manage patients with RA.