Description
What is Remicade?
Remicade is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha blocker that is used to reduce the signs and symptoms produced by inflammation in some autoimmune diseases. This biologic drug’s active ingredient is infliximab, which is a monoclonal antibody that is specific for the signaling protein TNF-alpha. It blocks the activity of tumor necrosis factor alpha by binding to its soluble and transmembrane forms, thus inhibiting the binding of it to its receptor. This lessens the inflammatory response and thus controls disease activity.
Remicade is given via intravenous infusion by a qualified healthcare professional. It is supplied as a sterile, white lyophilized powder. Each single-dose vial of Remicade contains 100mg of infliximab. Remicade comes as powder that is to be reconstituted with 10ml of sterile water for injection prior to being further diluted for intravenous infusion.
What is Remicade used for?
Remicade can help to reduce the signs and symptoms of a number of inflammatory autoimmune diseases, including Crohn’s disease in adult and pediatric patients, ulcerative colitis in adult and pediatric patients, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis. In respect to patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, Remicade should be given to patients who have failed to respond to conventional therapies for any of these conditions. If Remicade is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, the drug should be used together with methotrexate.
