Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica had no effective drug for the treatment of their condition but progress is on track!
A new publication from LBAI, out in the JAMA, shows that blocking IL-6 using tocilizumab has a strong steroid-sparing effect in Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Tocilizumab as a treatment for patients already receiving a glucorticoid therapy would reduce disease activity and allow significant diminution of glucocorticoids.
Check out the preliminary communication:
Devauchelle-Pensec V, Carvajal-Alegria G, Dernis E, et al. Effect of Tocilizumab on Disease Activity in Patients With Active Polymyalgia Rheumatica Receiving Glucocorticoid Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022;328(11):1053–1062. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.15459
Congratulations to all the researchers involved in the research.