title: Tocilizumab for treating rheumatoid arthritis: an evaluation of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dysregulated overproduction of IL-6 has important roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the only approved biologic agent inhibiting the IL-6 pathway for RA treatment, and is the focus of this review.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes the pharmacologic characteristics, clinical efficacy and safety profile of TCZ therapy in RA patients. The data reviewed were based mainly on Phase III randomized clinical trials and the literature until 2014 regarding TCZ in RA treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being a first-line biologic agent for RA, TCZ is especially suitable for RA patients who have shown an inadequate response to TNF-α inhibitors or who cannot tolerate methotrexate. In view of its advantage in suppressing acute-phase reactions and as the only approved inhibitor of IL-6 signaling, TCZ might be particularly effective for RA patients with a high systemic inflammatory response, anemia, AA amyloidosis and other diseases mediated by IL-6. Being able to identify reliable predictors of response to TCZ, and finding more effective new biologic and treatment options, will reduce the number of patients who fail to respond to TCZ.
authors.affiliation: Osaka University, Graduate School of Engineering, Division of Applied Chemistry, Department of Immuno-Medical Science , Osaka , Japan.
authors.forename: Soken-Nakazawa J
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshizaki
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: IL-6 receptor; efficacy; pharmacodynamic; pharmacokinetic; rheumatoid arthritis; tocilizumab