Approach to evaluating pregnancy safety of anti-rheumatic medications in the OTIS MotherToBaby pregnancy studies: what have we learned?

Abstract

For the last 30 years, pregnancy exposure studies, with varying methodologies, have been the mainstay of post-marketing surveillance for new drugs likely to be used by women of reproductive age. While they provide valuable data to inform use during pregnancy, they have limitations that render them necessary but not sufficient in supplying timely information to patients and prescribers. The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies' collaborative research group operates to help fill this gap. This paper provides an overview of the research that has been and is currently being conducted, as well as best practices determined over the past two decades. The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists MotherToBaby studies can provide earlier signaling with regard to concerns following possible teratogenic exposures, which when examined in conjunction with larger database studies and case-control designs, can move us closer to developing a fuller picture of drug safety for women of reproductive age.