Table 1

Current repertoire of biological agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Biological agent

Dose and mode of application

Approved indications

Etanercept (Enbrel®)

25 mg s.c. twice weekly, 50 mg s.c. weekly

Monotherapy, combination therapy

Adalimumab (Humira^®)

40 mg s.c. every 2 weeks

Monotherapy, combination therapy

Infliximab (Remicade^®)

3 mg/kg i.v. every 2 to 4 weeks, then extending intervals up to 8 weeks; maximum dose 5 to 7 mg/kg every 4 weeks

Only in combination with MTX

Certolizumab (Cimzia^®)

200 mg s.c. every 2 weeks (after loading dose)

Monotherapy, combination therapy

Golimumab (Simponi^®)

50 mg s.c. monthly

Only in combination with MTX

Rituximab (MabThera^®)

Course of 2 × 500/1,000 mg i.v. with an interval of 2 weeks; several courses every 4 to 8 months possible

With or without MTX

Abatacept (Orencia^®)

8 to 10 mg/kg i.v. (500 mg ( < 60 kg), 750 mg (60 to 100 kg), 1 g ( > 100 kg)) at weeks 0, 2, 4, then monthly

With or without MTX

Tocilizumab (RoActemra^®)

8 mg/kg i.v. monthly

Monotherapy, combination therapy

Anakinra (Kineret^®)

100 mg/day s.c.

With or without MTX

I.v., intravenously; MTX = methotrexate; s.c., subcutaneously.

Geyer and Müller-Ladner Arthritis Research & Therapy 2010 12:214   doi:10.1186/ar3102