certolizumab pegol   Click here for help

GtoPdb Ligand ID: 6774

Synonyms: CDP870 | Cimzia® | PHA 738144
Approved drug Immunopharmacology Ligand
certolizumab pegol is an approved drug (FDA (2008), EMA (2009))
Compound class: Antibody
Comment: This therapeutic is a TNFα neutralising agent. Structurally it is a Fab' fragment of a TNFα-binding monoclonal antibody, which has polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated to a free cysteine residue in its hinge region (Cys227 of the heavy chain). Removing the Fc portion minimizes complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), two reactions known to cause unwanted side-effects in mAb therapies. PEGylation is used to increase the drug's half life, as Fab' fragments are normally rapidly degraded in vivo.
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Immunopharmacology Comments
By neutralising TNFα (soluble and membrane forms), certolizumab pegol disrupts production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, and this action underlies its effectiveness in treating autoimmune diseases.
Immunopharmacology Disease
Disease X-Refs Comment References
Rheumatoid arthritis Disease Ontology: DOID:7148
OMIM: 180300
 An anti-TNFα therapy approved for RA.
Crohn's disease Disease Ontology: DOID:8778
OMIM: 266600
Orphanet: ORPHA206
 An anti-TNFα therapy approved for CD.
Axial spondyloarthritis Approved drug for axial spondyloarthritis (EMA 2009)
Psoriasis Disease Ontology: DOID:8893
 Approved drug for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (FDA 2018) and psoriatic arthritis (EMA 2009).