Olokizumab for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Olokizumab is a new humanized monoclonal antibody targeting IL-6 that is approved for treatment of patients with moderately severe or severe active rheumatoid arthritis despite therapy with methotrexate and other conventional diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs or biologic agents. The efficacy and favorable safety profile of olokizumab in combination with methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients who had previously failed methotrexate or tumour necrosis factor inhibitors were established in the several international 3 phase clinical trials (CREDO). The authors present two cases of successful olokizumab administration and discuss the indications for its use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to achieve clinical improvement and to prevent progression of AA-amyloidosis.