FDA Approves First Treatment Specifically for Giant Cell Arteritis

By the Editors

Subcutaneous tocilizumab (Actemra) is now approved for adults with giant cell arteritis, the FDA announced on Monday. The interleukin-6 receptor antagonist was previously approved for rheumatoid arthritis.

In a randomized trial of 250 patients with giant cell arteritis, sustained remission between weeks 12 through 52 was significantly more common among patients receiving tocilizumab plus prednisone than in those receiving placebo plus prednisone.