ABSTRACT
Biologic agents are proteins or antibodies engineered to target specic molecules. They are derived from the products of living organisms. In recent years, numerous drugs of this type have been added to the therapeutic armamentarium in various disciplines of medicine. In dermatology, psoriasis and chronic urticaria are so far the only entities for which some of these drugs have been approved. They include the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blockers like iniximab, etanercept, and adalimumab; inhibitors of proinammatory cytokines (IL12, IL17, IL23, IL27) like ustekinumab and secukinumab, and other monoclonal antibodies such as anti-IgE (omalizumab) and antiCD 20 (rituximab). New agents are currently under development undergoing different stages of clinical investigation.
