[Biologics and further new drugs for rheumatic diseases since 2000]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis are severe diseases, which without adequate treatment lead to extremely reduced mobility, functional status and quality of life.

The effects of biologics and further new antirheumatic drugs on the burden of disease.

Evaluation of study results and register data dealing with the efficacy and safety of these drugs.

Biologics have been proven to dramatically improve the outcome of all three diseases and contributed to the fact that remission is a realistic target today. In addition, the cardiovascular risk and mortality in RA have been reduced and structural damage is considerably blocked by biologics. Recently Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors contributed to the treatment possibilities in the same way. Biologics as well as JAK inhibitors offer an excellent safety profile and tolerability with infections being the most important risk.

With the availability of biologics and additional new drugs all three diseases have lost the status of difficult to treat diseases. Their usage according to the guidelines ensures that the burden of disease can been minimalized in most cases. The benefit-risk profile of these drugs has been shown to be excellent.