Biological therapies for inflammatory bowel disease: controversies and future options

Abstract

Over the last few years, advances in understanding the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, together with progress in biotechnology, have led to the availability of several biological drugs that have dramatically changed the therapeutic approach to these disorders. Indeed, several molecules targeting crucial inflammatory cytokines, blocking T-cell activation/proliferation or the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the inflamed bowel, have been discovered and commercialized. However, the increasing use of biological agents has raised some concerns regarding their short- and long-term safety. This review offers a critical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of biological agents in the management of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In addition, promising therapeutic options are discussed.

Keywords::

• adalimumab
• anti-TNF-α
• certolizumab pegol
• Crohn’s disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• infliximab
• natalizumab
• ulcerative colitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no 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. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

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

Notes

IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; IFX: Infliximab; TREAT Crohn’s disease Therapy, Resource, Evaluation and Assessment Tool registry.