Biologics in current therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Recent advance of molecular biology and immunology contributes to the development biologics such as anti-TNFα agent in the treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although therapeutic strategy of IBD has not been changed for a long time, success of Infliximab, first anti-TNFα agent, now changes therapeutic strategy of IBD dramatically. Top-down strategy has been considered to improve patients' natural history in the therapy for Crohn's disease as well as in rheumatoid arthritis. Infliximab also has been expected as a promising medicine for pediatric Crohn's disease. Furthermore, Infliximab has been approved for the therapy of ulcerative colitis. These tremendous successes of Infliximab have encouraged us to develop other anti-TNF agents and other biologics. In this review, we describe current topics of biologics in IBD treatment and discuss future direction. © 2009 The Japan Society for Clinical Immunology.