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Targeted therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
1Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital, Internal Medicine III, Department of Rheumatology, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria +43 1 40400 4301 ; +43 1 40400 4306 ; marcus.koeller@meduniwien.ac.at.
Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Biological therapies offer new hope for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers are first-line treatments, with alternatives like abatacept and rituximab available for those unresponsive to TNF therapy.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent inflammatory joint disease causing pain and disability.
- Biological therapies have revolutionized RA treatment, offering new therapeutic avenues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current biological therapies for rheumatoid arthritis.
- To discuss the efficacy and role of different biological agents in RA management.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals.
- Exclusion of data from congress abstracts to ensure data quality.
Main Results:
- Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents are highly effective and remain the primary biological choice for RA.
- Abatacept and rituximab (RTX) provide valuable alternatives for patients with insufficient response or contraindications to anti-TNF therapies.
Conclusions:
- TNF inhibitors are the cornerstone of biological RA treatment.
- Abatacept and RTX represent important advancements for refractory RA cases.
- Emerging therapies like tocilizumab promise further improvements in RA management.
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