title: Certolizumab: efficacy and safety profile of a novel pegylated TNF-alpha blocking agent.
abstract: The treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has changed since the introduction of biological agents. In particular, the anti Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha molecules have been the first group of drugs showing a good efficacy and safety profile. Among these, a new anti TNF-alpha antibody has been recently indicated for the treatment of RA: certolizumab pegol (CZP). In the main clinical trials this new pegylated anti TNF-alpha has shown to be efficacious on clinical, functional and prevention of structural damage in patients with active RA and with inadequate response to traditional disease modifying drugs, including methotrexate. Moreover CZP showed to be well tolerated and most adverse events occurred were mild or moderate. Therefore, results obtained showed that this new molecule can play a role in the treatment of RA.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze per la Salute, Università del Molise, Campobasso, Italy. enniolubrano@hotmail.com
authors: Ennio
authors: E
authors: Lubrano
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Spadaro
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D008727:Methotrexate