TNF-alpha inhibitors: Current indications

Advances in the DNA hybrid technology led to the development of various biologicals that specifically target TNF-α. There are currently three anti- TNF- α drugs available- etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab. Etanercept is approved by FDA for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2000 followed by its approval for ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Infliximab and adalimumab are approved by FDA in 2002 for RA. Infliximab is also approved for ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and adalimumab for psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Other conditions like bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus, malignancies, septic shock, behcet's disease, bullous dermatitis, neutrophilic dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, systemic vasculitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, pustular dermatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, cerebral malaria, hemolytic uremic syndrome, pre-eclampsia, allograft rejection, uveitis, otitis media, snakebite, erythema nodosum, myelodysplastic syndromes, graft versus host disease, dermatomyositis and polymyositis are the potential targets for anti-TNF- α therapy. There are resent reports of serious infections like tuberculosis with the use of anti-TNF therapy. In developing country like India these agents should be used with strict pharmaco-vigilance and chemo-prophylaxis for tuberculosis.