Biologic
RCSB PDB 5WUX
Certolizumab pegol
Cimzia
- Mechanism of action
- TNF-alpha inhibitor (PEGylated Fab fragment)
- In plain language
- A lab-made antibody fragment, chemically stabilized with a polymer coating, that grabs onto TNF-alpha — a protein that fuels inflammation — and stops it from triggering the immune system.
- How it works
- Certolizumab pegol is a recombinant, humanized Fab' fragment directed against human TNF-alpha, conjugated to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. It binds and neutralizes both membrane-associated and soluble TNF-alpha, blocking downstream pro-inflammatory signaling. Because it consists only of the Fab' antigen-binding fragment and lacks an Fc region, it does not fix complement or mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, distinguishing it mechanistically from full-length IgG anti-TNF antibodies such as adalimumab. PEGylation increases the molecule's serum half-life, allowing less frequent dosing.
- Therapeutic applications
- FDA-approved for moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis, active ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and Crohn's disease with moderately to severely active disease.
- Class
- Fab fragment
- Therapeutic area
- Immunology
View
Related compounds