Biologic & Targeted Therapy for Rheumatic Diseases
Biologic and targeted therapies have transformed the management of several inflammatory rheumatic diseases by focusing on specific pathways involved in abnormal immune activity. These treatments may be considered for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, and other immune-mediated rheumatic disorders when conventional treatment does not provide adequate disease control.
What Is Biologic and Targeted Therapy?
Biologic DMARDs are medicines designed to target specific components of the immune system that contribute to inflammation. Targeted synthetic DMARDs, including JAK inhibitors, work on specific intracellular signalling pathways. The choice of therapy depends on the diagnosed condition, disease activity, previous treatments, associated health conditions, and individual treatment goals.
Conditions That May Benefit
These therapies may be used in selected patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or axial spondyloarthritis, and other inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Treatment decisions should be made by a qualified rheumatologist after evaluating symptoms, examination findings, investigations, and previous response to treatment.
Safety and Monitoring
Before and during treatment, your rheumatology team may assess infection risk, medical history, blood tests, vaccinations, and other factors relevant to the selected medicine. Some biologic and targeted therapies can increase susceptibility to infections, making regular follow-up important.