Antitumor Necrosis Factor
In addition to the introduction of novel therapeutic agents, the next decade will invariably see the continued use and 'fine-tuning' of the current armamentarium of IBD therapy, especially antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF-α) medications that have become fundamental in treating both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Since first approved in 1998, infliximab has been used for induction and maintenance of therapy in Crohn's disease with and without fistulae.[1–4] This was followed by regulatory approval for use in ulcerative colitis.[5] Other TNF-α antagonist medications followed, with adalimumab approved first for induction and maintenance in Crohn's disease and then in ulcerative colitis;[6–10] certolizumab pegol was then approved for induction and maintenance in Crohn's disease, while golimumab was approved for ulcerative colitis.[11,12] Newer anti-TNF-α options have added to the diversity of treatment but many patients still require other treatments during their disease course.
Curr Opin Gastroenterol © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
