Related introduction of Avtozma (tocilizumab-anoh): What is it a medicine for?

Avtozma (tocilizumab-anoh) is an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist. As a biosimilar to Actemra, it is mainly used to treat a variety of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, giant cell arteritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and COVID-19.

Avtozma's indications include: first, for adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); second, for adults with giant cell arteritis; in addition, Avtozma can be used for patients aged 2 years and older with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis; finally, Avtozma is also recommended for hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 who require oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Avtozma is the third Actemra biosimilar to be approved, following Tyenne (tocilizumab-aazg), approved in 2024, and Tofidence (tocilizumab-bavi), approved in 2023. This series of biosimilars expands the options for treating IL-6-related diseases and provides patients with more treatment options.

This medication may be given by intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injection. Avtozma’s product label contains a warning box warning of the potential risk of serious infection. Warnings and precautions related to Avtozma include: serious infection, gastrointestinal perforation, hepatotoxicity, laboratory abnormalities and allergic reactions, and the use of live vaccines should be avoided. Common adverse reactions include upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, headache, hypertension, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and injection site reactions.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/history/avtozma.html