[Biologic therapies in inflammatory bowel disease: anti-TNF and new therapeutic targets]

Advances in the understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathophysiological mechanisms in the last few years have allowed the development of novel therapies such as biologic therapies. Theoretically, biologic therapies represent a more specific management of IBD with fewer effects.

Currently, infliximab is the only effective and widely accepted biologic therapy for the treatment of Crohn disease after the conventional therapies. Others anti-TNF therapies such as adalimumab or certolizumab will be soon an alternative treatment notably for patients with allergic reactions to infliximab and for those with lost of response because of anti-infliximab antibody development. Anti-integrin alpha4 therapies have been delayed by three progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy cases. Immunostimulating therapy may be highly relevant in the future with granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Efficacy of these new therapies will modify therapeutics of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and in particular decrease the use of corticosteroids, which are not well tolerated by the patients.