Developments of russian original biological agents for the treatment of immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases

The paper analyzes the key biological effects of cytokines that play a central role in the pathogenesis of immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases. Special attention is drawn to major proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-17. There are data from a preclinical study of the innovative original biological agents (BAs) designed by the JSC «BIOCAD»: BCD-085, a humanized anti-IL-17 monoclonal antibody, BCD-089, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, and BCD-121, a humanized bispecific anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-17 monoclonal antibody. The preclinical findings prove the specific activity of the drugs in suppressing the inflammatory process, as well as the low toxicity and good tolerance in animals, which could justify investigation of the the drugs during human clinical trials and open up prospects for effective and affordable treatment in Russian patients.