Biological therapy for ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worldwide. Better understanding of the patho-genesis of UC has led to the development of novel therapeutic agents that target specific mediators of the inflammatory cas-cade. A number of biological agents have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of UC and several more are currently in various phases of drug development. The commonly used agents include TNFa an-tagonists (e.g. infliximab, adalimumab, and golimumab) and anti-integrin agents (vedolizumab). These biological agents have profoundly influenced the management of UC patients, especially those with refractory disease. This paper reviews the currently available knowledge and evidence for the use of various biological agents in the treatment of UC. Key words: ulcerative colitis; biological therapy; TNFa antagonists; anti-integrin agents Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammation involving the colon and rectum. It is a cause of significant morbidity worldwide and its incidence and prevalence appear to be in-creasing with time [1]. Patients with UC frequently experience episodes of bloody diarrhea with or without mucous, abdomina