Efficacy of Tocilizumab Monotherapy After Ultra-Short Glucocorticoid Administration in GCA

This study found tocilizumab treatment after three days of pulse-dosing with 500 mg of methylprednisolone maintained remission in 72% of patients with GCA (13 of 18 patients) up to week 52. The data presented provides additional evidence for blocking interleukin 6 with tocilizumab in patients with GCA.

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP, is a freelance medical writer based in New York City and a pharmacist at New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.

References

Christ L, Seitz L, Scholz G et al. A proof-of-concept study to assess the efficacy of tocilizumab monotherapy after ultra-short glucocorticoid administration to treat giant cell arteritis—The GUSTO trial [abstract OP0061] Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Jun;80(suppl 1): 33.
Villiger PM, Adler S, Kuchen S et al. Tocilizumab for induction and maintenance of remission in giant cell arteritis: A phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2016 May 7;387(10031):1921–1927. Epub 2016 Mar 4.
Stone JH, Tuckwell K, Dimonaco S, et al. Trial of tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jul 27;377(4):317–328.

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