Safety profile of biological therapies for treating rheumatoid arthritis – latest findings

Biological therapies have a reasonable safety profile and the benefits far outweigh the possible risk of adverse events, according to a new review of the data.

Biological agents such as tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab are known to be able to transform the lives of some people with rheumatoid arthritis. But they are also associated with negative side effects.

So a group of experts has reviewed the safety profile of biological therapy, including TNFi and non-TNF agents such as abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab.

“Currently, the risk of serious infections is low and no increased risk in solid malignancies or cardiovascular events have been found after a long clinical experience with these therapies,” the experts report. “However, there are still potential risks as well as concerns of immunogenicity induced by TNFi. More studies are required to understand these risks, design safer drugs, and implement pharmacogenomics into the clinic.”

Click here to read the original research.

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