Evaluation of golimumab for the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Golimumab is a human anti-TNF monoclonal antibody that was derived from human antibody-transgenic mice. Golimumab demonstrated meaningful clinical benefit and tolerable safety in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were methotrexate (MTX)-naive, or who inadequately responded to MTX or who had previously been treated with a TNF inhibitor.Areas covered: This review summarizes published data on the clinical efficacy and safety for golimumab (including its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics) from multiple global phase III and Japanese phase II/III clinical trials. In the long term extension of three Phase III studies with subcutaneous golimumab, the reported retention rate is high.Expert opinion: Golimumab binds TNF with high affinity and can be delivered subcutaneously every 4 weeks. Like other IgG1 antibodies, FcγR functions suggests that antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity is observed but the contribution of cell lysis to efficacy is unclear. Altho...