The Handbook of Biological Therapy

Drugs produced by molecular biological techniques, called the 'biologics', differ from the usual chemical medications. Their optimum use, and the detection and managemenet of adverse events, pose a significant challenge to the clinician. Licences for new biologics continue to be granted for the likes of rituximab, abatacept and certocizumals pegol. Intensive research is also defining new areas in which these drugs will be used in the future, increasing the number of practitioners using biologics. As the use of these drugs increases around the world, so the level of information needed by primary care practitioners and specialist prescribers needs to be expanded The Handbook of Biological Therapy provides the practising clinician with a practica guide to the use of Tumour Necrosis Factor Blocking Therapy (TNF-blockers), and important new class of biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. It is a comprehensive distillation of the authors' clinical experience with these drugs, combined with data from diverse databases offering practical advice on their uses, specific indications, supporting clinical trial data and safety issues, with the aim of making the use of these drugs easier for the busy clinician. All of the authors have been involved from the beginnings of the clinical trial programmes with these drugs and continue to use them in daily practice.

Table of Contents:
TNF-blocker safety Rheumatology Dermatology Gastroenterology

About the Author :
Dr. Bruce Kirkham is currently Clinical Lead in Rheumatology/Lupus at Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospital Trust, London. His clinical research interests focus on optimising the use of drugs for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis. Arthur Kavanaugh, MD, is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Innovative Therapy in the UCSD Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Scott Plevy, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He is the Director of the University of North Carolina FOCIS Center of Excellence. Jonathan Barker has been Academic Head of St John's Institute of Dermatology since 2002. He is co-director of the Skin Therapy Research Unit and head of the Psoriasis Service at St John's Institute of Dermatology. His research interests focus on inflammatory skin diseases, particularly psoriasis.

Review :
The book is written as a practical manual rather than something to read cover to cover and so it can be used to dip in and out in an informal manner. I wholeheartedly recommend this handbook to clinicians who prescribe products of the biotechnology industry to treat chronic inflammatory diseases.