How effective is tocilizumab?

Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-6 and is used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease, giant cell arteritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Tocilizumab has a long duration of action because it is usually administered every 4 weeks and has a broad therapeutic index. Patients should be advised to be aware of the risks of infection, gastrointestinal perforation, and hepatotoxicity during treatment with this drug.

In addition to other functions, interleukin6 (IL-6) is also involved in the occurrence of immune and inflammatory responses. Some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are associated with abnormally high IL-6 levels. Tocilizumabbinds to soluble and membrane-bound interleukin-6 receptors, preventing interleukin-6 from exerting its pro-inflammatory effects. It has been noted that membrane-bound and soluble forms of the IL-6 receptor may have different roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, with the soluble form being more involved in disease progression.

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.