[Evolution of the pharmacological management of osteoarthritis: the biologics]

Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 β et TNF α are implicated in osteoarthritis where they contribute to the local synovitis. Blocking IL-1 β is a promising tool in experimental animal's model of osteoarthritis (OA). So far in human clinical trials using IL-1 blockers, the results are inconclusive. The blockade of TNF α seems more appropriated for inflammatory forms of hand OA with some encouraging results. Intra-articular administration of biologics is hampered by their short resident time into the joint. Gene therapy is one of the possible way to prolong the local intra-articular delivery of biologics.