Tocilizumab Effective in Treating Adults and Children with Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Tocilizumab Effective in Treating Adults and Children with Rheumatoid

Arthritis

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(March 20, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Tocilizumab is beneficial for both adults

with traditional rheumatoid arthritis and children with systemic-onset

juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SOJIA), according to two studies published in

The Lancet.

Here are some facts about the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis and

tocilizumab:

.. Known under the tradename Actemra, Tocilizumab is an investigational

agent targeting interleukin-6.

.. Interleukin-6 is believed to play a pivotal role in both the local and

systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.

.. Targeting interleukin-6 is believed to be a promising new direction in

the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

In the first study, researchers out of the Medical University of Vienna

randomized over 600 adults with rheumatoid arthritis to 4 or 8 mg/kg body

weight of tocilizumab or a placebo for four weeks. At 24 weeks, 59% of

patients on the high dose of tocilizumab and 48% on the low dose had

experienced a 20% reduction in signs of disease. Only 26% of patients in the

placebo group experienced similar improvement.

In the second study, researchers out of Yokohama City University School of

Medicine gave 56 children and young adults SOJIA three doses of tocilizumab

8mg/kg every 2 weeks during a 6-week lead-in phase. The 77% who experienced

a response were randomized to continued tocilizumab treatment or placebo for

another 12 weeks. Overall, 80% of those on tocilizumab maintained the

positive response, compared with only 17% on placebo.

Today's research highlights the potential for drugs targeting interleukin-6

to treat both traditional rheumatoid arthritis and more difficult to treat

subtypes, such as SOJIA.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Petra Joller.