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Interleukin-6 is one of a group of inflammatory cytokines implicated in the pathophysiology of both adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the interleukin-6 receptor and that has shown efficacy in early trials in both diseases.
One manufacturer-funded group randomized 622 adults with moderate-to-severe active RA and an inadequate response to methotrexate to receive tocilizumab or placebo intravenously every 4 weeks. After 24 weeks, significantly more patients who received tocilizumab than those who received placebo improved according to American College of Rheumatology criteria (48% and 59% for low and high doses of tocilizumab vs. 26% for placebo)…