Golimumab: A User's Guide to a New Biologic Treatment

Abstract

Background Golimumab is a new tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for controlling the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis, although it is not currently approved for use in psoriasis. Objective To give readers a review of current literature and clinical trials of golimumab and serve as a guide to this new biologic therapy. Methods A Medline search was performed using the following terms: golimumab, anti-TNF, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. Product inserts were obtained from fda.gov/Drugs. Results In a phase III clinical trial comprising patients with psoriatic arthritis, patients receiving golimumab showed significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of disease. Significant changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index were also observed in patients with at least 3% body surface area treated with golimumab. Other assessments included the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index, Physician's Global Assessment of psoriatic nail disease, and the psoriatic arthritis modified Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score, all of which showed notable improvement in golimumab-treated patients compared with placebo. Golimumab was usually well tolerated in phase III trials, but adverse events generally occurred more often in patients receiving golimumab compared with placebo. Long-term safety studies are ongoing. Conclusion Golimumab, one of the newest anti-TNF therapies, offers health care providers another effective treatment option for patients with psoriatic arthritis with a similar side effect profile and convenient dosing schedule relative to other available TNF antagonists.