TOCILIZUMAB
Tocilizumab, also known as atlizumab, is an immunosuppressive drug, mainly for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R).Adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more Disease-Modifying Anti- Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), giant cell arteritis (GCA) in adult patients, active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years of age and older, active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years of age and older, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell-induced severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome in adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older.
Dose vary as per clinical recommendation Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab.
Paediatric: The safety and effectiveness of TOCILIZUMAB in pediatric patients with conditions other than PJIA, SJIA or CRS have not been established. The safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 2 have not been established in PJIA, SJIA, or CRS. The ability of pediatric patients to self-inject with the autoinjector has not been tested. Pregnancy: It may cause fetal harm. Lactation: Data not sufficient. Elderly: Data not sufficient.
Upper respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis (common cold), headache, and high blood pressure, enzyme alanine transaminase elevation, but in most cases without symptoms. Elevated total cholesterol levels were common. Among the less common side effects were dizziness, various infections, as well as reactions of the skin and mucosae like mild rashes, gastritis and mouth ulcer. Rare but severe reactions were gastrointestinal perforations and anaphylaxis.
Data not sufficient.
