[Recombinant proteins or monoclonal antibodies: comparative properties and interest in rheumatoid arthritis]

Therapeutics options for inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), have increased tremendously in the past decade with the introduction of biologic therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies or recombinant fusion proteins. These have proven to be highly successful in treating inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, by blocking certain key molecules involved in the pathogenesis of the illness, cytokines (TNF) or immune coactivators (CTLA-4). Thus in rheumatoid arthritis, TNF can be neutralized both by monoclonal antibodies (adalimumab, infliximab) or recombinant inhibitors such as etanercept or CTLA-4 Ig abatacept. All have been marketed and proven to be highly effective in the treatment of RA, and we will discuss parameters which are taken into account to select monoclonal antibody or recombinant inhibitors. These include drug-related (target affinity, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action, etc.) and patient - (efficacy and side effects) or disease-related characteristics. Their impact on current clinical practice and future trends are discussed.