certolizumab pegol + methotrexate

Certolizumab pegol + methotrexate is a combination therapy used primarily for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Certolizumab pegol is a PEGylated Fab' fragment of a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets and neutralizes tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), thereby inhibiting its pro-inflammatory effects. Unlike other TNF inhibitors, certolizumab lacks an Fc region, which reduces the risk of complement or antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. Methotrexate is a conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) that inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, interfering with DNA synthesis and immune cell proliferation. The combination has been shown in phase 3 trials to be more effective than methotrexate alone in improving symptoms and physical function in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to methotrexate monotherapy[3][4][6]. Certolizumab pegol is also approved for use in psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, plaque psoriasis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis[1][2][3].