Human Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor for Crohn Disease

Adalimumab might be as beneficial as infliximab but with less toxicity.

Adalimumab is a human immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody that targets tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In a double-blind, industry-sponsored, 4-week trial, researchers randomized 299 patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn disease to receive subcutaneous injections of adalimumab or placebo. Three regimens of adalimumab were tested:

40 mg at week 0 and 20 mg at week 2
80 mg at week 0 and 40 mg at week 2
160 mg at week 0 and 80 mg at week 2

Rates of remission at week 4 were significantly greater with the two highest doses of adalimumab than with placebo (24% and 36% vs. 12%). Adverse events were similar in the active-treatment and placebo groups, with the most common event being injection-site reactions. Only 1 of the 225 patients who received adalimu…

Reviewing Author

Douglas K. Rex, MD