Abatacept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Edward M Vital, Paul Emery

Academic Unit of Musculoskeletal Disease, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK

Abstract: Abatacept (CTLA4-Ig) is a new agent which targets T-cell activation, an event which is thought to be critical to the onset and maintenance of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Abatacept now has substantial evidence from phase III trials for efficacy in patients with RA who have failed to respond to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and antitumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-á) biologic agents. Safety profile is favorable in combination with DMARDs. The mechanism of action and available evidence of its efficacy and safety are reviewed in this article.

Keywords: abatacept, rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs