Certolizumab pegol: an evidence-based review of its place in the treatment of Crohn’s disease

INTRODUCTION: Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by a relapsing/remitting course with transmural inflammation of potentially any section of the digestive tract. Certolizumab pegol (CZP) is a pegylated Fc-free Fab’ fragment of a humanized anti-TNF-alfa monoclonal antibody that is in development for clinical use in CD. AIMS: To review the available data with CZP in CD, to investigate its possible place in therapy. EVIDENCE REVIEW: Available studies suggest that CZP has the potential to achieve and maintain clinical response and remission in moderate to severe CD, and to improve quality of life compared with placebo. Further studies with CZP are also ongoing. PLACE IN THERAPY: Although only suggested by currently available studies, successive clinical practice and further ongoing trials may confirm a positive role for CZP as a new anti-TNF treatment in CD. The impact on clinical management or on resources cannot be estimated until the results from all phase III clinical trials are available and the price is determined.