title: [Biological agents].
abstract: There are two types of biological agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. Among the latter, etanercept, a recombinant fusion protein of soluble TNF receptor and IgG was approved in 2005 in Japan. The post-marketing surveillance of 13,894 RA patients revealed the efficacy and safety profiles of etanercept in the Japanese population, as well as overseas studies. Abatacept, a recombinant fusion protein of CTLA4 and IgG, is another biological agent for RA. Two clinical trials disclosed the efficacy of abatacept for difficult-to-treat patients: the AIM for MTX-resistant cases and the ATTAIN for patients who are resistant to anti-TNF. The ATTEST trial suggested abatacept might have more acceptable safety profile than infliximab. These biologics are also promising for the treatment of RA for not only relieving clinical symptoms and signs but retarding structural damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amano
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069594:Abatacept; D000068800:Etanercept