Combination therapy with dmards and biological agents in collagen-induced arthritis

R.O. Williams, A.-M. Malfait, D.M. Butler, M.J. Walmsley, M. Feldmann, R.N. Maini

Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, UK.

ABSTRACT
There is increasing interest in the use of combination therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and in the possibility of combining the conventional drug approach with newer biological therapies. Animal models of arthritis provide important tools for evaluating novel forms of therapy and for eludicating mechanisms of drug action. In this paper, we review the results of our own research into combination therapy in collagen-induced arthritis using biological therapies such as anti-tumor necrosis factor a, anti-CD4, and anti-interleukin 12 monoclonal antibodies, and small molecular weight compounds such as cyclosporin and the phosphodiesterase IV (PDE IV) inhibitor rolipram.

Key words
Rheumatoid arthritis, animal model, monoclonal antibodies, drug therapy.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr. R.O. Williams, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, 1 Aspenlea Road, London W6 8LH, UK.

This research was supported by the Arthritis Research Campaign.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 1999; 17 (Suppl. 18): S115 - S120.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 1999.