Tocilizumab Plus Methotrexate Brings Remission for Some

Posted 6/17/08

Tocilizumab plus methotrexate showed significant clinical improvements in efficacy and safety in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had not adequately responded to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, according to a new study presented at the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism. Tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin (IL)-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, was demonstrated to be effective irrespective of the number of, or the most recently failed anti-TNF treatments.

After 24 weeks of treatment, 30.1% of patients receiving tocilizumab plus methotrexate, who had active RA despite prior anti-TNF therapy, achieved DAS28 (a measure of disease remission) compared with only 1.6% of those receiving placebo.

Professor Paul Emery of Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust / Leeds University, UK, lead investigator in the trial, said, "Although anti-TNF therapies for RA are well-established, a substantial number of patients are inadequately controlled by these treatments, or become refractory to them. The results of this trial suggest that tocilizumab offers a much needed and effective option for such patients."

This article was adapted from a press release issued by EULAR.