Biotherapy in Inflammatory Diseases of the CNS: Current Knowledge and Applications

Biotherapy represents an innovative therapeutic approach that includes immunotherapy (vaccines, apheresis, and antibodies); gene therapy; and stem cell transplants. Their development helps to cross the bridge from bench to bedside and brings new hope of a cure for severe diseases in different fields of medicine. In neurology, a growing range of applications is being developed for these medications. Valuable results are now available in the field of autoimmunity, neuro-oncology, paraneoplastic manifestations, and neuro-degenerative disorders. In this review, we examine the current and future applications of biotherapy in the field of inflammation of the central nervous system. We demonstrate its contribution in clinical practice, where it has enabled a significant level of effectiveness to be achieved. Indeed, the efficacy of these new biodrugs provides a solution for patients refractory to standard therapies, such as intravenous immunoglobulins in limbic encephalitis, plasma exchanges in neuromyelitis optica and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in multiple sclerosis. They also mark the first steps towards individualized medicine.