Current status of monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are complex diseases that have required the use of multiple modalities to aid in treatment. With an increasing understanding of the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and identification of specific therapeutic targets, monoclonal antibody treatment has been an ideal strategy for inducing and maintaining remission in these patients. This article addresses approved agents and the supporting data justifying their use in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the safety of and immunologic reactions to these agents, as well as newer agents for treatment.

Keywords::

• Crohn’s disease
• infusion reaction
• monoclonal antibody
• tumor necrosis factor
• ulcerative colitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Lloyd Mayer is supported by the NIH (grant numbers AI044236, DK072201, AI061093, AI066738, DK086605 and AI084952). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.