Biologics: Targets & Therapy (Aug 2021)
Biological Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Overview for the Clinician
Abstract
Kate E Findeisen,1,* Julia Sewell,1,* Andrew JK Ostor2,3 1The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 2Cabrini Medical Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 3Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Andrew JK OstorCabrini Medical Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaTel +61 3 9509 4244Email [email protected]: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease characterised by inflammation of synovial joints and poses a substantial healthcare burden on both the individual and society. One of the most significant shifts in the RA therapeutic landscape has occurred with the introduction of biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). There are five classes of bDMARDs currently available, each with a different molecular target and subtle differences in their efficacy and safety profile. This review also describes the “real-world” use of bDMARDs and how they fit into the overall RA treatment guidelines.Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, biological therapies, bDMARDs
