What is tocilizumab?

Tocilizumab is indicated for the treatment of adults with progressive, severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not previously been treated with methotrexate, and adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have been previously treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate or Treatment with drugs that are tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers is not effective enough or is not tolerated, children over 1 year old with active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis are not effective enough, other treatments (with anti-inflammatory drugs called NSAIDs and corticosteroids) are not effective enough, and children over 2 years old with juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis are not effective enough with treatment with methotrexate.

Tocilizumab is used in combination with methotrexate to treat these conditions, but it can also be used alone in patients who are not candidates for methotrexate therapy. Tocilizumab is also indicated for the treatment of severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in adults and children 2 years of age and older who have giant cell arteritis, and in adult patients with COVID-19 who are receiving oral or injectable corticosteroids and require additional oxygen or mechanical ventilation (assisted breathing through a machine).

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.