Certolizumab pegol for treating axial spondyloarthritis

• Published in: Expert opinion on biological therapy Vol. 16; no. 8; p. 1059
• Main Authors: Desmarais, Julianna, Beier, Secia, Deodhar, Atul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02.08.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Certolizumab Pegol - therapeutic use; Humans; Quality of Life; Spondylarthritis - drug therapy; Spondylitis, Ankylosing - drug therapy; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors; Axial spondyloarthritis; certolizumab pegol; ankylosing spondylitis; non-radiographic spondyloarthritis
• ISSN: 1744-7682
• DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2016.1205581

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints. The spectrum of axSpA includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA). Evidence has supported the use of TNF alpha inhibitors (TNFi) in treating these diseases, with good efficacy and tolerable safety profiles. Certolizumab pegol (CZP) is an anti-TNF alpha (TNFa) agent with data to support its use in both AS and nr-axSpA. The pharmacologic properties of CZP were reviewed. Data regarding the use and efficacy of CZP in axSpA were reviewed. Quality of life outcomes and safety profiles of CZP in axSpA patients were discussed as well. While there are several biologics with evidence for improved outcomes in AS, there is less evidence for biologic medications that have good efficacy in nr-axSpA. CZP has good evidence of improved outcomes in terms of clinical efficacy, patient reported outcomes and imaging outcomes in both conditions, with a tolerable safety profile.