Benefit
Cimzia with the generic name ‘certolizumab pegol’ (CZP) received FDA approval in 2008, and is a PEGylated blocker of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Cimzia is a PEGylated Fab ’ fragment (part of a humanized IgG antibody without the Fc region) that specifically recognizes and binds to TNF-α, thus neutralizing its activity. It is a fragment of a monoclonal antibody specific to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and is manufactured by UCB Cimzia is used for treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Crohn’s disease, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. These diseases all are somehow related to autoimmunity; an unhealthy immune response of the patient against his/her own healthy cells. Crohn’s disease is not an autoimmune disease since it seems that the content of the gut lumen triggers the response and not self-antigens. TNF-α is a pluripotent pro-inflammatory cytokine and could be one of the main cytokines responsible for the autoimmune attack.
