Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2011
Abstract
Certolizumab pegol is a new TNF- inhibitor consisting of two fragments of monoclonal antibody, connected with pegol. It is indicated in active rheumatoid arthritis when the treatment with disease modifying drugs (DMARDs) failed.
Certolizumab is given in subcutenous infections with 400mg of the drug in weeks 0, 2 a 4, then the treatment continues with the dose 200mg given once in two weeks. Combination with methotrexate is more effective, but certolizumab can be used also in monotherapy.
Side effects are similar to other TNF-inhibitors, the most clinically significant adverse events are infections including activation of latent tuberculosis.