Sometimes it is not easy to find a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment that works. Some people with RA may try several treatments before finding one that is effective. Others may find that a treatment that has worked in the past is no longer working as effectively.
If conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are not controlling inflammation well enough, the next treatment option may be a biologic response modifier. Biologic response modifiers are also referred to as biologic DMARDs, or biologics. (Targeted synthetic DMARDs, medications taken orally called JAK inhibitors, are another option at this stage.)
What are biologic DMARDs?
Biologics are medications that are created in a lab by reproducing specific proteins in cultured cells. There are many different biologic treatments available. While they work in different ways, all treat autoimmune diseases like RA by suppressing specific processes in the immune system.
The pain, swelling, and damage of RA occur when the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the joints and other parts of the body. Biologics suppress this immune response, which can ease RA symptoms, slow disease progression, and reduce damage caused by RA.
How are biologic DMARDs taken?
How a treatment is given depends on the type of medication being prescribed. Some biologics for RA are administered via infusion and require a person to visit a clinic or healthcare provider’s office to receive treatment. Others are given as an injection and can be self-administered at home. Dosing schedules vary by treatment—biologics may be taken once every few days or once every few weeks.
Who should take biologics?
Biologics are not often used as a first-line treatment for RA. They are typically prescribed after other treatments haven’t been able to control symptoms or slow disease progression. Since biologic DMARDs work by suppressing the immune system, they can make people more vulnerable to infections.
Are biologics taken with other treatments?
Biologics are often used in combination with other treatments for RA, especially non-biologics. However, they are not typically used along with other biologics, since it could put a person at a higher risk of infection.
Even when a person is taking medication for RA, management of the condition should include exercise and physical therapy, focusing on good nutrition, and taking steps to reduce bone loss, all of which should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Are biologics used to treat other conditions?
In addition to the treatment of RA, biologics are used to treat a number of other inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including psoriasis, Crohn's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Sources: Global Healthy Living Foundation (AUS). ... + 5
- Global Healthy Living Foundation (AUS). Targeted Synthetic DMARDs/JAK inhibitors. Accessed September 29, 2026.
- Cleveland Clinic. Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDS). November 1, 2024.
- Arthritis Foundation. Biologics. September 3, 2022.
- American College of Rheumatology. Understanding Rheumatic Disease Treatments: Conventional DMARDs vs. Biologic Medications. June 11, 2025.
- Merck Manual Professional Version. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). May 2026.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Trouble treating rheumatoid arthritis. September 1, 2024.
