Increasing tocilizumab dose interval reduces chance of maintaining remission in RA

Increasing the dose interval of subcutaneous tocilizumab is associated with a lower chance of maintaining remission after 24 weeks, and is not linked to improved tolerability, among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

“[Tocilizumab] was initially developed as an intravenous formulation, but a subcutaneous formulation was recently developed, with a clinical efficacy and safety similar to intravenous [tocilizumab] ,” Raimon Sanmarti, MD, PhD, of the Rheumatology Service Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, and colleagues wrote. “A retrospective study suggested the possibility of dose reduction for intravenous [tocilizumab] in a substantial proportion of RA patients without a disease flare. However, the efficacy and safety of a dose reduction of [tocilizumab] have not been evaluated in randomized controlled trials for either the intravenous or subcutaneous administration route.”