Mesalamine is a 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Which of the following statements about mesalamine is accurate in the context of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ?

a) Mesalamine is absorbed and used as a treatment for RA.
b) Mesalamine is considered the only NSAID that functions as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in RA.
c) Mesalamine is not used in the treatment of RA.
d) Mesalamine is specifically indicated for the treatment of RA.