infliximab + leflunomide

A combination therapy consisting of infliximab, a monoclonal antibody that targets tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and leflunomide, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Infliximab works by binding to TNF-α, preventing it from interacting with its receptors and thereby reducing inflammation. Leflunomide is a prodrug that is converted to its active metabolite A77 1726, which inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in pyrimidine synthesis, thereby preventing proliferation of activated lymphocytes. This combination is primarily used for treating rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have had an inadequate response to leflunomide alone.