Abstract
Vedolizumab is a monoclonal anti-intergrin IgG1 antibody, which has been approved for use in clinical practice for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients in European Union a few months ago. This drug is expected to be available during this year in the Czech Republic as well.
The clinical research project GEMINI I-III proved that vedolizumab was very effective in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The significant advantages of vedolizumab therapy are high efficacy in patients who failed to respond to anti-TNF alpha therapy, either primarily or secondarily.
This drug shows a sustained effect increasing during long-term maintenance therapy, minimal immunogenicity, and excellent safety profile, related to its high selectivity for gastrointestinal tract. There are also some disadvantages of vedolizumab treatment, which include slow antiinflammatory therapeutic response, limited effect on extraintestinal manifestations, and little therapeutic potential for perianal Crohn's disease.