What are the side effects of Avtozma (tocilizumab-anoh)?

Avtozma (tocilizumab-anoh) is a biologic agent widely used in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases. Its indications include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), giant cell arteritis (GCA), polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA). In the treatment of COVID-19, Avtozma is indicated for hospitalized adult patients who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation.

AlthoughAvtozma has shown good efficacy in clinical applications, its side effects cannot be ignored. In clinical studies, common adverse reactions include upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis, which may be related to the drug's suppressive effect on the immune system, making patients more susceptible to infection. In addition, headache, high blood pressure, and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are also common side effects. These reactions may affect the patient's quality of life and require regular monitoring to ensure safety.

In addition, with the launch of Avtozma, more and more serious adverse reactions have been reported. Among these, allergic reactions (including fatal anaphylaxis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome) are particularly important and require immediate attention to prevent life-threatening conditions. At the same time, issues such as drug reactions accompanied by eosinophilia, pancreatitis, drug-induced liver injury, hepatitis, liver failure, and jaundice also require attention. These serious side effects require physicians to fully evaluate patients before using Avtozma to ensure its suitability.

Warnings and precautions related toAvtozma include an increased risk of serious infection, gastrointestinal perforation, hepatotoxicity, and laboratory abnormalities. Therefore, doctors should regularly monitor patients' health during treatment to detect and deal with potential side effects as early as possible. In addition, patients should avoid receiving live vaccines while taking Avtozma to reduce the risk of infection.

Reference materials:https://www.celltrion.com/en-us/company/media-center/press-release/3668