title: Golimumab: a new anti-TNF-alpha agent for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease characterized by symmetric arthritis leading to progressive erosion of cartilage and bone. Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are also inflammatory arthritides that belong to the spondyloarthritides. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologic therapies including anti-TNF agents are used in their treatment. The TNF antagonists have shown rapid and sustained therapeutic responses. However, a substantial number of patients fail to respond to anti-TNF agents or experience side effects. Golimumab is a human monoclonal antibody to TNF-α requiring less frequent administration compared with current anti-TNF products. Various trials have shown promising results in terms of efficacy and safety in methotrexate-naive and -resistant patients with RA as well as in patients previously treated with other anti-TNF agents. The efficacy of golimumab has also been demonstrated in patients with psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. pvoulgar@cc.uoi.gr
authors.forename: Paraskevi V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Voulgari
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C529000:golimumab