Meta-analysis: the efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol in Crohn's disease.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Certolizumab pegol is the third anti-TNF-alpha agent approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States.

AIM:

To provide a comprehensive up-to-date review of the efficacy and safety of certolizumab in Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS:

Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane library and the Science Citation Index, were searched to retrieve relevant trials. In addition, meeting abstracts and the reference lists of retrieved articles were reviewed for further relevant studies.

RESULTS:

Three trials, enrolling a total of 1040 patients, are included in the meta-analysis to evaluate the short-term efficacy of certolizumab, which is effective for rapid induction and long-term maintenance of clinical response or remission and can improve quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease. Certolizumab is also effective for patients who have lost response to infliximab. However, its efficacy in infliximab-exposed patients is probably less than in infliximab-naive patients. Re-induction with certolizumab in patients who have flared on maintenance therapy can rescue a significant proportion of patients. There is no significant association between the efficacy of certolizumab and the baseline C-reactive protein level. In comparison with placebo, certolizumab does not increase the risk of serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS:

Certolizumab is effective and safe in treating Crohn's disease. Further studies are still required to assess its full safety profile.

• Authors: L-M Shao, M-Y Chen, J-T Cai
• Journal: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics (Aliment Pharmacol Ther) Vol. 29 Issue 6 Pg. 605-14 (Mar 15 2009) ISSN: 1365-2036 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19183161 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Polyethylene Glycols
• C-Reactive Protein
• Infliximab
• Adalimumab
• Certolizumab Pegol

Topics

• Adalimumab
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (drug effects)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• C-Reactive Protein (metabolism)
• Certolizumab Pegol
• Crohn Disease (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments (therapeutic use)
• Infliximab
• Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
• Quality of Life
• Remission Induction
• Treatment Outcome
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha