UCB's Cimzia Approved for Crohn's Disease

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

JC Jones MA RN

The FDA approved Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) for treatment of Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract on April 22, 2008. Cimzia® is a pegylated anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agent also known as tumor necrosis factor agonists, designed to neutralize inflammatory cytokines.

Cimzia® is effective in reducing signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. Patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy (oral mesalamine, oral corticosteroids, and 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine (6-MP/AZA) may benefit. Symptoms of Crohn's disease are:

• abdominal pain
  
• bleeding
• diarrhea
• extraintestinal manifestations (arthritis, uveitis, iritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum, or spondylitis)
  
• internal fistulae
• intestinal obstruction
• perianal disease
• megacolon
• weight loss

Crohn's disease is marked by cycles of flare-ups and remissions through out the patient's life. Cimzia® is manufactured by UCB Group in Brussels, Belgium. It is administered by subcutaneous injection every four weeks after initial dosing.

Thank you Hamamatu Minami Hospital Gastroenterology and IBD Clinic for use of image.

Labels: biologics, Cimzia, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease

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