title: CDP-870 (certolizumab) in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The development of biological anti-TNF-alpha therapy has revolutionised the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, and has identified a worldwide market for expensive yet effective therapies for chronic diseases. Certolizumab (CDP-870) is a new agent that employs a novel strategy to neutralise TNF-alpha--namely the prokaryotic expression of TNF-alpha-specific Fab antibody fragments, coupled to polyethylene glycol--to produce a drug that is potentially less expensive to manufacture than other anti-TNF-alpha agents and which may be administered by subcutaneous injection once a month. The background to the ongoing development of this new agent and its clinical effects are discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool Academic Rheumatology Unit, Clinical Sciences Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, L97AL, UK.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Moots
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol