Open AccessBiological therapies for rheumatoid arthritis: beyond TNF‐α blockade
Author(s) -
MOK Chi Chiu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
aplar journal of rheumatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1479-8077
pISSN - 0219-0494
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-8077.2006.00196.x
Subject(s) - medicine , abatacept , rheumatoid arthritis , tocilizumab , rituximab , tumor necrosis factor alpha , antirheumatic drugs , adalimumab , etanercept , tnf inhibitor , antirheumatic agents , biologic agents , immunology , infliximab , lymphoma
Biological therapies represent one of the major advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the past decade. The tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) inhibitors have started marketing in most Asian countries. Despite having a higher efficacy than conventional disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), the anti‐TNF‐α agents are not successful in all patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, short‐term and long‐term complications such as tuberculous infection and lymphoma are still a major concern. Recent studies have demonstrated that several non‐TNF‐α biologics such as rituximab, abatacept and tocilizumab are effective in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis, including those who are not responsive to the TNF‐α inhibitors. This article updates the clinical data on the recently developed non‐TNF‐α biological agents in rheumatoid arthritis.