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Review
. 2019 Oct 24:11:1759720X19883973.
doi: 10.1177/1759720X19883973. eCollection 2019.

Balancing benefits and risks in the era of biologics

Giovanni Adami  1 , Kenneth G Saag  2 , Roland D Chapurlat  3 , Nuria Guañabens  4 , Glenn Haugeberg  5 , Willem F Lems  6 , Radmila Matijevic  7 , Nicola Peel  8 , Denis Poddubnyy  9 , Piet Geusens  10
Affiliations
Review

Balancing benefits and risks in the era of biologics

Giovanni Adami et al. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. .

Abstract

Biologics are substances synthetized from biological sources used in the prevention and treatment of several diseases. Rheumatologists have many years of experience with biologics for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases and osteoporosis. Randomized clinical trials and postmarketing studies have demonstrated that treatment with biologics can result, albeit infrequently, in serious adverse events. To date, several risk mitigation strategies have been identified and implemented. The objective of the present perspective review is to examine the risk mitigation strategies of biologic treatments, with special focus on anti-tumor necrosis factors and denosumab.

Keywords: benefit–risk ratio; biologics; denosumab; romosozumab.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: Giovanni Adami declares that he has no conflict of interest. Kenneth G. Saag declares a research grant from Amgen and Merck and a consultant fee from Amgen, Lilly, Merck and Radius and Roche. Roland D. Chapurlat declares a research grant from Amgen, Merck, Chugai, UCB and a speaker/consultant fee from Amgen, Lilly, UCB, BMS, Abbvie, Pfizer, Arrow, Ultragenyx and Chugai. Nuria Guañabens declares a speaker/consultant fee from Alexion, Amgen, Eli Lilly and UCB. Glenn Haugeberg declares a research grant, speaker fees, and/or consultant fees from Amgen Pfizer, UCB, Abbott, Lilly, Novartis, Roche, and Biogen. Willem F. Lems declares a speaker/consultant fee from Pfizer, Amgen, Eli Lilly and UCB. Matijevic Radmila declares that she has no conflict of interest. Nicola Peel declares that she has no conflict of interest. Denis Poddubnyy declares a research grant from Abbvie, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and a speaker/consultant fee from Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB. Piet Geusens declares a research grant from Amgen, Pfizer, Merck, UCB, Abbott, Lilly, BMS, Novartis, Roche, Will Pharma and a speaker/consultant fee from Amgen and Lilly.

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