Certolizumab Pegol: A Review in Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases.

Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) is a subcutaneously administered polyethylene glycolylated (PEGylated) antigen-binding fragment of a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that selectively neutralizes TNFα. The drug is indicated for a variety of inflammatory autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease (CD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), based on its benefit in these settings in well-designed clinical trials. In these studies, certolizumab pegol (as first- or subsequent-line therapy) reduced the severity of CD when used as an induction or maintenance therapy, and improved the signs/symptoms and slowed the radiographic progression of RA (with or without concomitant methotrexate), PsA and axSpA. Certolizumab pegol is generally well tolerated, with upper respiratory tract infections, rash and urinary tract infections being among the most frequent adverse reactions. Thus, certolizumab pegol is an effective option for the management of these autoimmune diseases.