Actemra IV (tocilizumab) / Roche, JW Pharma - LARVOL DELTA

Antibody-mediated Rejection - Treatment Standard. (PubMed, Nephrol Dial Transplant) - "We conclude that steroids, rituximab, bortezomib, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonists lack sufficiently robust evidence to support their use in AMR. Along these lines, in severe early AMR, complement inhibition may also be an option. Ongoing phase 2 trials evaluating prolonged courses of high dose IVIG, the neonatal Fc receptor blocker efgartigimod, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor fostamatinib, and the complement inhibitor BIVV020, along with phase 3 trials of the anti-IL-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab and the CD38 antibody felzartamab, offer hope for effective, approved therapies targeting different aspects of AMR pathobiology."

Journal • Antibody-mediated Rejection • Inflammation • Transplantation

PATTERNS OF DISEASE RELAPSE AND THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH GIANT CELL ARTERITIS (EULAR 2025) - "Although tocilizumab is an efficacious GC-sparing therapy that allows increased sustained remission and reduced cumulative GC doses, relapses are common after drug discontinuation of the biologic therapy. Relapses occur mainly during the first year following diagnosis, despite GC are not discontinued. Extra cranial arteries involvement at GCA diagnosis is a predictor of relapse. Methotrexate therapy was not of great help to control GCA symptoms, whereas gradual tapering of TCZ should be considered."

Clinical • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Vasculitis

SWITCHING FROM REFERENCE TOCILIZUMAB TO BIOSIMILAR IN GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY (EULAR 2025) - "We assessed a) effectiveness including clinical and laboratory parameters, and EULAR definition of remission (absence of signs and symptoms and normalization of acute phase reactants) [5], b) dose of prednisone, and c) side effects...TCZ-biosimilar was prescribed in monotherapy in 27 (90%) patients, and combined with methotrexate in 3 (10%) patients... Our results suggest that TCZ-biosimilar is an effective and safe treatment for GCA patients when they were switched from the TCZ-reference product."

Clinical • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology

EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TOCILIZUMAB IN PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT TAKAYASU ARTERITIS: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY (EULAR 2025) - "In this small cohort of young patients with TAK, TCZ provided sustained disease control, reduced vascular inflammation and enabled significant GCs sparing. Adverse events were manageable. Larger multi center trials are warranted to confirm these findings and evaluate long-term vascular outcomes."

Clinical • Cardiovascular • Infectious Disease • Inflammation • Pain • Pediatrics • Respiratory Diseases • Rheumatology • Vasculitis • CRP

Biological treatment may be an option as first steroid-sparing agent in a subgroup of young Takayasu Arteritis patients with prominent acute phase reactants and constitutional symptoms (EULAR 2025) - "The number of the patients who received bIS was 113 (34%) (89 TNF inhibitors, 24 tocilizumab) and who received only cISs was 216 (66%) during follow-up... In this study, TAK patients with biologic treatment need during follow-up had more frequent constitutional symptoms and higher acute phase reactants with a higher relapse rate compared to patients receiving cIS treatment. Our results may suggest that in young TAK patients with prominent acute phase reactants and constitutional symptoms at diagnosis, biologic treatment may be an option as first sparing agent."

Clinical • Rheumatology • Vasculitis • CRP

A ROLE FOR SHOULDER ULTRASOUND IN DISEASE MONITORING IN POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA (EULAR 2025) - "12 patients were steroid free at 18 months (7 on no treatment, 5 on weekly tocilizumab)... PMR patients have characteristic US findings that persist in the later stages of disease. Bilateral shoulder findings were associated with clinical PMR. The presence of a single finding on US in the absence of symptoms is unlikely to be significant."

Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Inflammation • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Rheumatology

LONGITUDINAL OUTCOMES UP TO 24 MONTHS IN ISOLATED POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA (EULAR 2025) - "In total 20 patients were exposed to the IL-6 inhibitor tocilizumab in this cohort. This prospective study reports for the first time the longitudinal outcomes up to 24 months of an Irish PMR population, and emphasizes the disease and management burden, highlighting the importance of specialist input in the care of those with isolated PMR."

Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Rheumatology • IL17A

REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE FOR SWITCHING MOLECULAR TARGETED DRUGS IN TAKAYASU ARTERITIS (EULAR 2025) - "Relapse occurs in approximately 60% of patients, with tocilizumab (TCZ) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) being the preferred molecular targeted drugs in such cases [2, 3]...The molecular targeted drugs used included TCZ (38 patients), TNFi (14), JAK inhibitors (3), abatacept (2), rituximab (1), and ustekinumab (2)... Molecular targeted drugs demonstrated high retention rates and effectively maintained remission while reducing glucocorticoid doses in relapsed TAK cases. The transition from TCZ to TNFi showed satisfactory results but was limited by a lack of supporting evidence. These findings highlight the need for further research to expand therapeutic options and optimize switching strategies in TAK management."

Clinical • HEOR • Real-world • Real-world evidence • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Inflammatory Bowel Disease • Oncology • Otorhinolaryngology • Rheumatology • Ulcerative Colitis • Vasculitis

EVALUATION OF THE PROGNOSTIC EFFECT OF ADDING DISEASE MODIFYING ANTI-RHEUMATISMAL DRUGS TO GLUCOCORTICOIDS IN THE TREATMENT OF POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA (EULAR 2025) - "All patients received prednisone or an equivalent GC as the initial treatment, with a median dose of 15 (15-20) mg and a median treatment duration of 20 (11-35.5) months...During follow-up, 99 (63%) patients received DMARDs in addition to GC, including methotrexate (69 patients, 69.6%), leflunomide (27 patients, 27.2%), hydroxychloroquine (11 patients, 11.1%), azathioprine (4 patients, 4.04%), and tocilizumab (3 patients, 3.03%)... In our retrospective study, the addition of DMARDs to GC therapy in PMR patients did not significantly affect the duration of GC use or relapse rates. However, the potential benefits and risks of DMARD use should be further investigated in future studies. Baseline characteristics of patients"

Cardiovascular • Cataract • Diabetes • Giant Cell Arteritis • Hematological Disorders • Herpes Zoster • Hypertension • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Metabolic Disorders • Musculoskeletal Pain • Ophthalmology • Osteoporosis • Pain • Rheumatology • Varicella Zoster

THE PREDICTIVE ROLE OF RED BLOOD COUNT INDICES IN GIANT CELL ARTERITIS AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL AND IMAGING FINDINGS (EULAR 2025) - "Background: The administration of Tocilizumab (TCZ) makes C-reactive protein (CRP) unreliable for the monitoring of giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients... Reduced Hb and HCT levels are a common finding in active GCA: this may be caused by both iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease, and the activation of IL-6 axis can only partially explain it. Moreover, Hb increases in remitting patients and low Hb levels seem to be capable of predicting further relapses. We believe Hb might be effectively employed, in combination with several other biomarkers, such as HCT and PLT, in the monitoring of patients affected by GCA: in particular, the lack of correlation between CRP and Hb in TCZ-treated patients makes the latter suitable for the monitoring of patients under anti-IL6R agents."

Clinical • Anemia • Giant Cell Arteritis • Hematological Disorders • Immunology • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Rheumatology • Vasculitis • CRP

INTRAVENOUS VERSUS SUBCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION OF TOCILIZUMAB IN AORTITIS ASSOCIATED WITH GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: MULTICENTER OPEN-LABEL STUDY OF 196 PATIENTS. (EULAR 2025) - "In GCA-aortitis, SC TCZ might be more effective than IV in achieving the EULAR remission target in clinical practice conditions after 24-month follow-up."

Clinical • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Vasculitis

EMETHOTREXATE IN POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA WITHOUT SUBCLINICAL GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A SINGLE ARM, PROOF OF CONCEPT, TRIAL (EULAR 2025) - "In addition, none of this study adequately ruled out the presence of subclinical giant cell arteritis (GCA) and PMR-mimickers, which, accounting for more than 20% of cases, may justify the poor response to methotrexate (MTX), as well as the low dosage employed (7,5 to 10 mg, orally or i.m. administered)...Secondary endpoints were the number of flares and adverse events, the number of patients treated bDMARDs and mean prednisone (PDN) dosage, C-reactive protein (CRP) and ESR at 24 weeks...Tocilizumab was prescribed in 4 patients who did not tolerate MTX or required persistent dosage of PDN... Upon subclinical GCA is excluded, MTX, administered at adequate dosages, is a suitable option for the treatment of PMR, allowing a safe and precocious discontinuation of oral glucocorticoids. A thorough evaluation of axillary and temporal arteries should be therefore performed, as a subclinical GCA, which is known to be associated with a higher relapse ratio, may justify the poor..."

Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Inflammatory Arthritis • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Rheumatology • CRP

A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW TO INFORM THE 2025 EULAR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA AND LARGE VESSEL VASCULITIS: MANAGEMENT OF DISEASE INCLUDING RELAPSE AND COMPLICATIONS (EULAR 2025) - "RCTs of GCA (low RoB) reported superiority of secukinumab (Phase-2, n=1), mavrilimumab (Phase-2, n=1) and upadacitinib (Phase-3, n=1) vs placebo; Phase-2 trials of sarilumab (n=1) and sirukumab (n=1) were prematurely terminated (high RoB)...RCTs of TAK reported similar effectiveness of methotrexate or mycophenolate (unclear RoB), and superiority of adalimumab vs tocilizumab (high RoB). Phase-3 RCTs in PMR revealed superiority of tocilizumab and sarilumab (low RoB) vs. placebo while smaller phase-2 studies provided initial evidence for efficacy of rituximab (low RoB) and abatacept (unclear RoB) vs placebo (Table 1). A RCT showed similar efficacy of tofacitinib or glucocorticoids in PMR although this study was at high risk of bias... The systematic review identified several new Phase-2 and Phase-3 RCTs about the efficacy and safety of IL-6i, IL-17i, Janus kinase inhibitors and B-cell depletion therapies in GCA and PMR. High quality adequately sized RCTs in TAK are still..."

Review • Fatigue • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Rheumatology • Vasculitis

IS THERE A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IN THE TREATMENT OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS WITH TOCILIZUMAB (EULAR 2025) - "In contrast with the “window of opportunity” observed in other immune mediated inflammatory diseases, a delay in the initiation of TCZ therapy in GCA may not decrease its effectiveness in clinical practice."

Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Inflammation • Pain

INFECTIONS IN GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: ANALYSIS OF A MONOCENTRIC RETROSPECTIVE COHORT OF PATIENTS (EULAR 2025) - "GCA is treated with high doses of glucocorticoids (GCs) and immunosuppressive therapies, in particular tocilizumab (TCZ) and methotrexate (MTX), which are associated with several side effects, including infections...At hospitalization, 16 (55%) patients were receiving high doses of GCs (prednisone ≥ 10 mg/day ), 15 (52%) patients TCZ, and 6 (21%) patients MTX... Patients with GCA are at a high risk of infection, occurring in about 40% of our cohort patients, with around 50% of these infections resulting in hospitalization during follow-up. Infections were managed either in an inpatient or outpatient setting, with approximately 50% in each, and the majority (around 60%) occurred within 2 years after diagnosis. For both inpatient and outpatient infections, main sites were respiratory tract, urinary tract, sepsis, gastrointestinal tract, and skin."

Retrospective data • Dermatology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Giant Cell Arteritis • Herpes Zoster • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Nephrology • Novel Coronavirus Disease • Ocular Infections • Ophthalmology • Respiratory Diseases • Rheumatology • Septic Shock • Varicella Zoster • Vasculitis

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENTS FOR GIANT CELL ARTERITIS (EULAR 2025) - P, P2, P3, P4 | "Tocilizumab (TOC; biologic, IL-6 inhibitor), upadacitinib (UPA; small molecule JAK inhibitor) and adalimumab (ADA; biologic, anti-TNF) were the only treatments reporting results from Phase 3 RCTs [8–12]...Data for the remaining 4 treatments were based on Phase 2 RCTs [mavrilimumab (MAV; biologic, GM-CSFr antagonist), secukinumab (SEC; biologic, IL-17A inhibitor), abatacept (ABA; biologic, CLTA-4Ig)] and single-arm trial [baricitinib (BAR; small molecule JAK inhibitor)] [11–16]... Based on the findings from the review there are limited treatment options available for GCA patients. TOC received regulatory approval [4], while Phase 3 results for UPA demonstrate promising efficacy and SEC is a monoclonal antibody currently in active Phase 3 development. Continued development of effective alternative glucocorticoid-sparing treatment options will support patients contraindicated or unresponsive to current treatment options and reduce the clinical burden among..."

Clinical • Review • Cardiovascular • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Inflammation • Pain • IL17A

ADDRESSING EVIDENCE GAPS IN POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA: FINDINGS FROM A LITERATURE REVIEW (EULAR 2025) - "Glucocorticoids were the most studied treatment, followed by tocilizumab and combination therapies with DMARDs... This review highlights key insights into diagnosis and management of PMR and GCA. Imaging techniques like 18-FDG PET/CT and ultrasound offer high sensitivity and specificity and combining them with clinical judgment enhances accuracy and cost-effectiveness while reducing reliance on invasive procedures like temporal artery biopsy. Glucocorticoids (GC) remain the primary treatment but are associated with significant adverse events, highlighting the need for alternative therapies like biologics, which require careful monitoring."

Review • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Metabolic Disorders • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Rheumatology • IL6

ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE OF POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA (PMR) AMONG PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (EULAR 2025) - "In the treatment risk and prognosis section, the overall mean score was 63.4% (SD: 22.7) with only 35.5% of PHPs knowing that tocilizumab has proven efficacy for the treatment of PMR with a steroid-sparing effect... This survey highlights notable gaps in PMR knowledge among PHPs, particularly regarding awareness of the prevalence and incidence of PMR and PMR treatment options. Based on gaps identified, educational initiatives and professional training programs are needed to improve PMR awareness. Improving knowledge among PHPs may facilitate earlier recognition and support better outcomes for affected populations."

Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Rheumatology

REAL-WORLD EVALUATION OF LUNG FUNCTION TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE AND PULMONARY FIBROSIS, AFTER NINTEDANIB TREATMENT (EULAR 2025) - "Twenty-eight of patients were on concomitant immunosuppressives (Glucocorticosteroids n=19, Mycophenolate Mofetil n=15, Tocilizumab n=5, Hydroxychloroquine n=3, Rituximab n=6, Methotrexate n=1, Intravenous Immunoglobulin n=1) as a monotherapy or combination of them. Our real-world data across a broad spectrum of CTD-ILD suggest that nintedanib could be beneficial in combination with immunosuppressives in slowing the rate of lung function decline."

Clinical • HEOR • Real-world • Real-world evidence • Dermatomyositis • Idiopathic Arthritis • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Inflammatory Arthritis • Interstitial Lung Disease • Myositis • Pneumonia • Pulmonary Disease • Respiratory Diseases • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • Scleroderma • Systemic Sclerosis

TREATMENT WITH HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED SURVIVAL IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS-ASSOCIATED PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (EULAR 2025) - "The immunosuppressive agents were mycophenolate mofetil (13 patients), azathioprine (7), methotrexate (7), cyclophosphamide (5), hydroxychloroquine (9), prednisolone (4) rituximab (1) and tocilizumab (1). Our findings suggest that immunosuppression may improve survival in SSc-PAH, an outcome mainly driven by the effect of hydroxychloroquine. This is consistent with the plausible protective endothelial effect of hydroxychloroquine on vasculopathy. Considering the limitations of a retrospective approach, future prospective studies are warranted."

Cardiovascular • Immunology • Interstitial Lung Disease • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension • Pulmonary Disease • Respiratory Diseases • Scleroderma • Systemic Sclerosis

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TOCILIZUMAB IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A RETROSPECTIVE, MONOCENTRIC STUDY (EULAR 2025) - "Objectives: To assess efficacy and safety of TCZ in a real-life cohort of SSc patients, and to compare it with a control group of SSc patients treated with Rituximab (RTX)...Data about deaths, ILD radiographic progression, Nintedanib (NNT) introduction and TCZ/RTX withdrawal were also collected... Our retrospective study confirms that Tocilizumab can slow lung progression and reduce overall disease activity in SSc, while also demonstrating a slight but positive effect on skin involvement. The safety profile and the number of treatment discontinuations are encouraging, consistent with its extensive use in rheumatology. In our cohort, TCZ and RTX showed comparable efficacy for ILD, with a slight advantage of RTX in overall disease control, which is likely due to its more noticeable effect on skin thickening."

Retrospective data • Bone Marrow Transplantation • Cardiovascular • Congestive Heart Failure • Heart Failure • Immunology • Rheumatology • Scleroderma • Systemic Sclerosis

REGISTRY OF ANIFROLUMAB USE IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS IN THE VALENCIAN COMMUNITY (EULAR 2025) - "Only 1 patient was treated with anifrolumab without prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) therapy, with an average of 2.6±1.25 previous DMARDs (23 hydroxychloroquine, 13 MTX, 15 azathioprine, 10 mycophenolate, 5 tacrolimus, 5 leflunomide, 1 cyclosporine, 1 chloroquine, 1 dapsone). The mean number of prior biologics before starting Anifrolumab was 1.29±0.78 (15 belimumab, 13 rituximab, 1 tocilizumab, 1 abatacept, 2 antiTNF, 1 cenerimod). Only 33.33% required corticosteroid boluses, and one required cyclophosphamide. Anifrolumab was concomitantly prescribed with hydroxychloroquine in 53.33% of patients, mycophenolate in 13.33%, methotrexate in 20% and azathioprine, tacrolimus and mepacrine in 6.66%... From the third month of Anifrolumab treatment, a significant reduction in prednisone dose mantained until 6th month, as well as SLEDAI scores, were observed. The domains showing the greatest improvement were hematological, joint, and mucocutaneous,..."

Hematological Disorders • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Lupus • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF BIOLOGIC THERAPIES ON SARCOPENIA IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (EULAR 2025) - "Corticosteroid treatment was received by 98% (n=51) of the patients, with an average dose of 6±2 [2.5-10] mg prednisone equivalent...The treatments administered included etanercept and adalimumab, each used in 7.7% of cases (n=4), infliximab in 19.2% (n=10), certolizumab in 13.5% (n=7), tocilizumab in 5.8% (n=3), and rituximab in 3.8% (n=2)... In our study, bDMARDs were not found to impact sarcopenia in RA even if they seem to be associated with higher muscle mass."

Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • Sarcopenia

INFUSION/INJECTION-RELATED REACTION INCIDENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ON BIOLOGIC DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTI-RHEUMATIC DRUGS: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE KOREAN COLLEGE OF RHEUMATOLOGY BIOLOGICS REGISTRY (EULAR 2025) - "Among TNF inhibitors, golimumab also reduced IRR risk (OR 0.34, p=0.006). After experiencing IRRs, the use of etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab decreased, while there was an increase in the use of tocilizumab and JAK inhibitors. This study highlights a significant occurrence of IRRs among patients with RA treated with bDMARDs, identifying younger age and prior use of methotrexate or leflunomide as key risk factors. These findings underscore the need for individualized patient management, suggesting that abatacept, tocilizumab or JAK inhibitors may serve as more suitable treatment alternatives for at-risk patients."

Clinical • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • Sjogren's Syndrome • CRP

THE EFFECTS OF GLUCOCORTICOID ON TREATMENT COURSE IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFICULT TO TREAT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (EULAR 2025) - "Inability to taper glucocorticoids (below 7.5 mg/day prednisone or equivalent) was included in the EULAR definition of D2TRA...In these 673 patients, 137 patients met D2TRA criteria (tocilizumab: n=21, sarilumab: n=10, abatacept: n=31, tofacitinib: n=30, baricitinib: n=30, Upadacitinib: n=10, peficitinib: n=4, filgotinib: n=1)...In the logistic regres-sion analysis, ORs were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, disease durations, titer of rheumatoid factor, titer of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide, DAS-ESR, HAQ, methotrexate dose, glucocorticoid dose, type of bDMARDs/JAKi, number of past bDMARDs/JAKi, history of lymphoproliferative disorders, history of pancytopenia and history of interstitial pneumonia based on the results of the univariate analysis and general risk factors of inability to taper glucocorticoid... Drug retention rate and clinical efficacy of D2TRA patients were not different between glucocorticoid use group and glucocorticoid non-use..."

Clinical • Hematological Disorders • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Inflammatory Arthritis • Interstitial Lung Disease • Pneumonia • Respiratory Diseases • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology