No abstract

The presence of low ADA trough levels without AAA is strongly predictive of clinical response in 67% of cases after ADA optimization. Conversely, low ADA levels with detectable AAA are associated with ADA failure, and switching to IFX should be considered. ADA trough levels >4.9 μg/ml are associated with failure of two anti-TNF agents (ADA and IFX) in 90% of cases, and switching to another drug class should be considered.

The presence of AAA is associated with a higher risk of loss of clinical response to adalimumab, whereas high TRA is associated with greater clinical response rates in CD. More data are needed in ulcerative colitis.

The automated NOVA View(®) reading of slides allows saving time, and an improvement in the standardization. Nevertheless, it requires a confirmation by a qualified operator, to interpret mixed patterns in particular.

This review discusses the rationale behind recommending immunopharmacological guidance of long-term therapies with anti-TNF-α specific biotherapies. "Arguments why therapeutic decision-making should not rely on clinical outcomes alone are presented. Central to this is that the use of theranostics (i.e., monitoring circulating levels of functional anti-TNF-α drugs and antidrug antibodies) would markedly improve treatment because therapies can be tailored to individual patients and provide more effective and economical long-term clinical benefits while minimising risk of side effects. Large-scale immunopharmacological knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of TNF-α biopharmaceuticals in individual patients would also help industry to develop more effective and safer TNF-α inhibitors" [1].