The FDA has approved the marketing of certolizumab pegol (Cimzia - UCB), a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, for treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease refractory to conventional treatment. It is the third TNF blocker approved for this indication.

Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia – UCB), a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor previously approved for treatment of Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and ustekinumab (Stelara – Janssen), a human interleukin-12 and -23 antagonist previously approved for treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, have now been approved by the FDA for treatment of active psoriatic arthritis.

Three tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors – infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), and certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) – are approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in adults who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. Infliximab is also FDA-approved for the same indication in children ≥6 years old and for treatment of fistulas in adults. All 3 TNF inhibitors have been shown to reduce the signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease in clinical trials. They have been associated with adverse effects such as...

Golimumab (Simponi - Centocor), a fully humanized anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a antibody, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of: (1) moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in combination with methotrexate; (2) active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) alone or in combination with methotrexate; and (3) active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

The FDA has approved five tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of many systemic inflammatory disorders.

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View Expanded Table: Some Biologic Drugs and JAK Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The injectable interleukin (IL)-23 antagonist risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi – Abbvie) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD) in adults. Risankizumab was approved earlier for treatment of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

View the Table: Safety of Drugs for IBD in Pregnancy

View the Table: Some Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease