Development of anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

The aetiology of systemic, autoimmune, chronic inflammatory diseases - such as rheumatoid arthritis - is not known, and their pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial. However, progress in the characterization of intercellular mediators - proteins that are now known as cytokines - has led to the realization that one cytokine, tumour-necrosis factor (TNF; previously known as TNF-α), has an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. This discovery heralded a new era of targeted and highly effective therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis and, subsequently, other chronic inflammatory diseases.