16.04.3 Infliximab

The cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF_α) has major role in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Thus, inhibitors of TNF_α are used in the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Infliximab is an antibody to TNF_α i.e. it binds to TNF_α and inactivates it. Infliximab is used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease and moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Infliximab is not active after oral administration and is given intravenously every 8 weeks to people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.