A drug that blocks tumor necrosis factor to slow joint destruction belongs to which pharmacologic class?

A drug that blocks tumor necrosis factor to slow joint destruction belongs to which pharmacologic class?

• A. Anti-inflammatory
• B. Antineoplastic
• C. Antitumor Necrosis Factor
• D. Antitussive

Answer: (C)

Blocking tumor necrosis factor targets a specific inflammatory signal central to rheumatoid arthritis, making the drugs that do this antitumor necrosis factor agents, or TNF inhibitors. By binding TNF-alpha (or blocking its receptor), these medicines prevent TNF from triggering inflammatory pathways, which reduces joint inflammation and slows the structural damage that leads to erosion. This is why they are considered disease-modifying biologic therapies rather than just general anti-inflammatory drugs that mainly ease symptoms without halting progression. They are not typically classified as antineoplastics, which are used for cancer, and they are not cough suppressants. Examples include TNF inhibitors such as infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept.

Blocking tumor necrosis factor targets a specific inflammatory signal central to rheumatoid arthritis, making the drugs that do this antitumor necrosis factor agents, or TNF inhibitors. By binding TNF-alpha (or blocking its receptor), these medicines prevent TNF from triggering inflammatory pathways, which reduces joint inflammation and slows the structural damage that leads to erosion. This is why they are considered disease-modifying biologic therapies rather than just general anti-inflammatory drugs that mainly ease symptoms without halting progression. They are not typically classified as antineoplastics, which are used for cancer, and they are not cough suppressants. Examples include TNF inhibitors such as infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept.