Update on the use of abatacept for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Abatacept is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate or a TNF antagonist, and can be used either as monotherapy or concomitantly with nonbiologic DMARDs. It can be administered either intravenously or subcutaneously. It has demonstrated to improve signs and symptoms of RA, physical function and health-related quality of life, and it inhibits radiographic progression of structural damage across a wide range of early and long-standing RA populations. The safety profile appears good and close to RA patients treated with nonbiologic DMARDs. Meta-analysis and real-world studies support these findings. This article reviews published data on clinical and radiographic efficacy as well as the safety of this drug, incorporating recent relevant information reported at scientific meetings.