Title:The Use of Biologic Therapies in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Volume: 15
Issue: 6
Author(s): Dashan Wang, Yan Li, Yuan Liu and Guixiu Shi
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Biologic therapy, cell-targeted therapy, cytokine-targeted therapy, rheumatoid arthritis.
Abstract: The use of biologic agents has revolutionized the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the past two decades.
These biologic agents directly target molecules and cells involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Biologic agents indeed
lead to a better prognosis and clinical remission in patients with RA, especially in patients who are not well-controlled
with traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Currently, five TNF inhibitors (infliximab, etanercept,
adalimumab, golimumab and certolizumab pegol), an IL-6 receptor antagonist (tocilizumab), an IL-1 receptor antagonist
(anakinra), a B cell depleting agent (rituximab) and a T cell co-stimulation inhibitor (abatacept) have been approved
for the treatment of RA. With the increased understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of RA and advantages in
manufacturing biotechnology of pharmaceutical companies, a series of novel biologic therapeutic approaches are being
developed. In the present paper, we will summarize the biologic agents currently available to treat RA, and the prospective
biologic therapies that might be used in the management of RA in future.
