. 2011 Oct 25;51(1):24–31. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker321

Table 2.

Biologic agent comparisons, incidence of serious infections

Biologic drug	Speed of onset	Half-life	Incidence of serious infections	Contraindicated in heart failure
Adalimumab	Fast	14 (10–20) days	4.3 per 100 patient-years vs 3.0 per 100 patient-years in placebo and active control-treated patients	Yes^a
Certolizumab pegol	Fast	14 days	6.0 per 100 patient-years vs 2.0 per 100 patient-years placebo	Yes^a
Etanercept	Fast	4 days (70–132 hours)	6.3% of RA patients treated for up to 48 months	No^b
Golimumab	Fast	9–15 days	5 per 100 patient-years vs 6 per 100 patient-years for control patients (1 year data)	Yes^a
Infliximab	Fast	8–9.5 days	Data not quoted in SmPC	Yes^a
Rituximab	Slow	20.8 (8.5-35.9) days	Approximately 4 per 100 patient-years	Yes^c
Abatacept	Slow	13 (8-25) days	2.87 per 100 patient-years; 1.8% vs 1.0% of placebo-treated	No
Tocilizumab (8 mg/kg)	Fast	13 days	5.3 per 100 patient-years vs 3.9 per 100 patient-years in placebo + DMARD group	No

Source: SmPC. ^aNYHA Grade III and IV; ^bnot contraindicated but SmPC advises caution; ^cNYHA Grade IV.