What is the future of targeted therapy in rheumatology: biologics or small molecules?
Our understanding of inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis has significantly increased over the last 20 years. With this greater understanding we have seen a significant improvement in the therapy of RA and other inflammatory rheumatic diseases. In this review, Moscai et al. discuss the improvements in therapies for the treatment of these diseases from the introduction of methotrexate as a frontline therapy through to the current era and approval of the first small molecule inhibitor for use in RA treatment, tofacitinib. Both biologics and small molecule inhibitors offer unique advantages and disadvantages through route of administration, half-life etc. and as small molecules start to enter the market we are beginning an era of real-life comparison.
