TNF-alpha antagonists for the treatment of Crohn's disease.
New medical therapies that inhibit the bioactivity of TNF-alpha represent a major breakthrough in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Anti-TNF-alpha, monoclonal, chimeric antibody (infliximab) is now FDA approved for use in patients with active CD. Other investigational drugs that also inhibit TNF-alpha activity include new 'humanised' anti-TNF-alpha antibodies (CDP571), thalidomide, new analogues of thalidomide, and TNF-alpha receptor fusion proteins. This review will summarise the key clinical data for each of these categories of TNF-alpha inhibition and discuss the potential economic impact of these new compounds on the cost of CD management.
Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. Kaml@CSHS.org
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide; D000069285:Infliximab