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While for a century therapeutics has been dominated by small molecules, i.e. organic chemicals of ~400Da absorbable via the gut, this is no longer the case. There are now a plethora of important medicines which are proteins and injectable, which have dramatically improved the therapy of many inflammatory diseases and of cancer. Most of these are monoclonal antibodies, some are receptor Ig Fc fusion proteins, others are cytokines or enzymes. The key to this new aspect of therapeutics has been the filling of unmet needs, and the consequent commercial success, which promoted further research and development. The first 'biologic' for a common disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was a monoclonal antibody, infliximab, to human tumour necrosis factor (TNF). This was based on our work, which is described in this review, summarizing how TNF was defined as a good target in RA, how it was developed is described here, as well as future indications for anti-TNF and related agents. Biologics are now the fastest growing sector of therapeutics.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/intimm/dxu102

Type

Journal article

Journal

Int Immunol

Publication Date

01/2015

Volume

27

Pages

55 - 62

Keywords

anti-cytokine therapy, atherosclerosis, fibrosis, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Atherosclerosis, Humans, Immunotherapy, Infliximab, Molecular Targeted Therapy, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha