Why use tocilizumab

Tocilizumab The active ingredienttocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody, a protein that recognizes and attaches to a specific target (called an antigen) in the body. Tocilizumab attaches to a receptor for a messenger molecule, or cytokine, called interleukin-6. This messenger is associated with inflammation and is found at high levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis, giant cell arteritis, cytokine release syndrome, and COVID-19.

By preventing interleukin-6 from attaching to its receptor, tocilizumab reduces inflammation and other symptoms of these diseases. Tocilizumab is available by prescription only and is available as a solution for subcutaneous injection or as a concentrated solution for intravenous infusion (drip). The mode, dosage, and frequency of administration of tocilizumab depend on the condition it is used to treat. For COVID-19 and cytokine release syndrome, tocilizumab can only be administered as an infusion.

TocilizumabThe original drug has been launched in China and has been included in the medical insurance. Due to its short time on the market, the second-line treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is still limited to traditional treatments for rheumatoid arthritisDMARDs To treat patients whose disease activity has decreased by less than 50% in 3 to 6 months, Tocilizumab injection can only be used as directed by the doctor. Its price is around RMB 8,600, which is relatively expensive. The price of the European version of tocilizumab original drug available overseas is around around RMB 14,000 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients and efficacy of the two drugs are basically the same. Currently, there are no generic drugs produced and marketed overseas, and patients can choose by themselves.