Med. Pro Praxi 2009; 6(6): 313-319

Biological medication of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis I: principles and operation of the therapy

MUDr. David Suchý

Oddělení klinické farmakologie, FN Plzeň

Drugs produced by molecular biologic techniques, called the „biologics“, differ from the usual chemical medications. They are proteins,

either monoclonal antibodies or fusion proteins with different pharmacokinetic and patient response characteristics. Theier unique specificity

of action produces characteristic adverse events related to their ability to neutralise specific immune pathways. Tumour necrosis

factor alpha (TNF) blocking strategy is an impoirtant new class of biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohns

disease, colitis ulcerosa, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis This class of drugs is now being used increasingly around the world. Aditional

biological drugs such as abatacept, rituximab have and tocilizumab recently received licenses for some indications and could be used

as second line drugs in RA patiens not respondind to anti TNF therapy.

Keywords: RA-treatment, biologics, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, efficacy.

Published: January 1, 2010  Show citation