Olokizumab has potential for tough-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis

Active moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis that has responded inadequately to a commonly used therapy could soon be treated with olokizumab, researchers report at the 2015 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

Currently people with rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are often given TNF inhibitors in combination with methotrexate. But nearly half of those who receive TNF inhibitors respond inadequately to this treatment.

Olokizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-6. Interleukin-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is involved in processes that contribute to joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Western and Asian rheumatoid arthritis patients completed two phase 2 randomized controlled studies testing the use of olokizumab in those on methotrexate who had failed anti-TNF therapy. Volunteers received 120mg olokizumab every two weeks plus methotrexate. Olokizumab was well tolerated and reduced disease activity

“Olokizumab was well tolerated, with a safety profile expected for this class of agent, and reductions in disease activity were sustained to week 48,” explains Dr Mark Genovese, who presented the findings.

In one of the studies, 18.9% discontinued treatment due to adverse events, and in the other study, 6.8% discontinued treatment for the same reason.

The adverse events most often involved infections and infestations.

The study group says that the results support the continued development of olokizumab for rheumatoid arthritis.

Source: Medical News Today

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