埃米尔·冯·贝林的白喉血清治疗是抗体的首次治疗应用。100多年后的1998年，以针对肿瘤坏死因子α（TNFα）的抗体英夫利昔单抗获批为标志，类风湿性疾病的治疗进入了新时代。抗体疗法的特点是高度特异地结合和中和抗原。此外，免疫系统的激活可以消除靶细胞。风湿病学利用免疫系统的这些特性来消除炎症细胞因子或产生抗体的B淋巴细胞。通常耐受性良好，但必须考虑抗TNFα治疗可能导致结核病的再激活等潜在副作用。目前，在德国已经批准了20种用于治疗不同炎症性风湿病的抗体和融合蛋白。在专利保护期结束后，生物仿制药可以降低价格。目前正在研究许多其他靶抗原，并且正在开发进一步的结构创新（例如双特异性抗体、纳米抗体或与小分子结合）。© 2023. 作者, 排他许可给施普林格·梅蒂辛出版社 GmbH, Springer Nature的一部分.

Emil von Behring's serum therapy for diphtheria was the first therapeutic use of antibodies. More than 100 years later, a new era in the treatment of rheumatic diseases began in 1998 with the approval of infliximab, an antibody directed against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). The special feature of antibody therapy is the ability to bind and neutralize antigens in a highly specific manner. In addition, target cells can be eliminated by activation of the immune system. These properties of the immune system are exploited in rheumatology to eliminate inflammatory cytokines or antibody-producing B lymphocytes. The tolerability is usually good but potential side effects, such as reactivation of tuberculosis with anti-TNF alpha treatment must be considered. Currently, 20 different antibodies and fusion proteins have been approved in Germany for the treatment of various inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Biosimilars can contribute to a price reduction after the patent protection expires. Many additional target antigens are being investigated and further structural innovations (e.g., bispecific antibodies, nanobodies or coupling with small molecules) are being developed.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.