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

Targeting IL-6 in antibody-mediated kidney transplant rejection. (PubMed, Clin Kidney J) - "Additionally, the anti-IL-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab and the anti-IL-6 antibody clazakizumab have been studied for the treatment of naïve as well as resistant antibody-mediated kidney allograft rejection with mixed results in observational studies and early clinical development...Investigator-initiated clinical development continues in a smaller phase 3 trial testing tocilizumab (INTERCEPT). In this viewpoint article, we evaluate the pathophysiology of IL-6 in antibody-mediated kidney allograft rejection along with the current status of the clinical development of IL-6 targeting therapies for antibody-mediated kidney allograft rejection episodes within the wider frame of IL-6 targeting therapies in kidney failure that are considered the major causes of graft loss in kidney transplantation."

Journal • Review • Antibody-mediated Rejection • Hematological Disorders • Immunology • Inflammation • Transplant Rejection • Transplantation • IL6

The Perfect Storm: Simultaneous Oncologic Emergencies in an Adolescent With Relapsed B-ALL (ASPHO 2025) - "He was refractory to retrieval therapy with inotuzumab, so transitioned to blinatumomab which was discontinued after 48 hours due to future anticipated CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapy. After a 48 hour washout from blinatumomab, he started a new regimen with venetoclax, cytarabine, and etoposide...Given suspicion for CRS, tocilizumab was also administered... Simultaneous occurrence of TLS and CRS has not been described and can lead to diagnostic ambiguity. In the right context, two distinct oncologic emergencies can co-occur and lead to rapidly progressive illness. This case underscores the importance of early recognition and rapid intervention to prevent clinical decline."

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia • B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia • Cardiovascular • Hematological Malignancies • Hypotension • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Leukemia • Metabolic Disorders • Nephrology • Oncology • Pediatrics • Renal Disease • Respiratory Diseases • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

PTPN2-KO CAR-T Cells Demonstrate Enhanced Effector Function, CNS Infiltration, and Toxicity in a Non-Human Primate Model (ASPHO 2025) - "DL3 recipients rapidly improved after administration of tocilizumab ± dexamethasone. We demonstrate that PTPN2-KO CAR-Ts possess increased effector function, proliferation, and CNS infiltration. The augmented effector function was associated with CRS/ICANS, and earlier T-cell exhaustion phenotype that could be mitigated by dasatinib treatment during manufacturing. This study highlighting the utility of evaluating gene-modified CAR-Ts in clinically relevant animal models."

CAR T-Cell Therapy • Preclinical • Hematological Malignancies • Leukemia • Oncology • CD20 • CD69 • CXCR4 • GZMA • GZMK • PTPN2

Experience With CD22 car T-Cells in Patients With Down Syndrome and Relapsed/Refractory B-ALL (ASPHO 2025) - P1 | "Treatment history included: prior HSCT (n = 2), CD19 CAR T-cells (n = 2), blinatumomab (n = 1) and inotuzumab (n = 1)...Across patients, the maximum grade cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was 2 (range, 0–2) and no patient experienced immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or required tocilizumab or ICU transfer. One patient experienced grade 2 immune effector cell associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis -like syndrome (IEC-HS) and was effectively treated with a brief course of steroids and anakinra... CD22 CAR T-cells had manageable toxicities in patients with DS, and efficacy was comparable to the broader trial results. As advancements continue with CD22-targeted therapies, this approach holds promise as a treatment option for DS patients with relapsed or refractory disease, particularly those with CD19 loss."

CAR T-Cell Therapy • Clinical • IO biomarker • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia • B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia • Bone Marrow Transplantation • Developmental Disorders • Genetic Disorders • Hematological Malignancies • Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis • Immunology • Leukemia • Oncology • Rare Diseases • CD19 • CD22

Randomized Phase II Study of Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine With or Without Tocilizumab as First-Line Treatment in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Survival and Cachexia. (PubMed, J Clin Oncol) - P2 | "Although the primary end point was not met and TrAEs were increased by Toc, increased survival at 18 months and reduced muscle wasting support an anticachexia effect of IL-6 blockade independent of GDF15. Further studies could leverage these findings for precision anticachexia therapy."

Journal • P2 data • Cachexia • Oncology • Pancreatic Cancer • Solid Tumor • GDF15

Study of Rituximab or Tocilizumab for Patients With Steroid-Dependent Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs) (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2 | N=8 | Active, not recruiting | Sponsor: Columbia University | Recruiting ➔ Active, not recruiting | N=30 ➔ 8 | Trial primary completion date: Feb 2025 ➔ Dec 2025

Adverse events • Checkpoint inhibition • Enrollment change • Enrollment closed • Trial primary completion date • Psoriatic Arthritis • Solid Tumor

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma that developed 20 years after breast reconstruction and was successfully treated with chemotherapy (PubMed, Rinsho Ketsueki) - "She was diagnosed with suspicion of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease and received pulse therapy with corticosteroid and eight courses of tocilizumab, which resulted in progression of the disease...Six cycles of brentuximab vedotin in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone (BV-CHP) led to complete remission. Her implant was subsequently removed. It is important to keep in mind the possibility of BIA-ALCL when lymphadenopathy is observed in patients with a history of breast reconstruction with textured implants."

Journal • Hematological Malignancies • Liver Cancer • Lymphoma • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma • Oncology • Rare Diseases • Solid Tumor

Dynamics of Modified Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis on the Background of 5-Year Therapy with an Interleukin 6 Receptor Inhibitor. (PubMed, Dokl Biochem Biophys) - ": Against the background of long-term TCZ therapy in RA patients, there was no increase in CVR and significant structural changes in CA. It is necessary to dynamically monitor the blood lipid profile and CVR in RA patients receiving TCZ therapy. Statin therapy can successfully control dyslipidemia in RA patients who receive long-term TCZ."

Journal • Atherosclerosis • Cardiovascular • Dyslipidemia • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Metabolic Disorders • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • IL6

OPTec: Outpatient Administration of Teclistamab or Talquetamab for Multiple Myeloma (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2 | N=75 | Recruiting | Sponsor: SCRI Development Innovations, LLC | Trial completion date: Aug 2025 ➔ Mar 2026 | Trial primary completion date: Jul 2025 ➔ Feb 2026

Trial completion date • Trial primary completion date • Hematological Malignancies • Multiple Myeloma • Neutropenia • Oncology

Rheumatoid Arthritis Associated Interstitial Lung Disease and the Risk of Malignancy (ATS 2025) - "He had previously been on methotrexate, adalimumab, sulfasalazine, abatacept, leflunomide, and most recently mycophenolate mofetil...A 67-year-old male active smoker with RA-ILD on tocilizumab presented with worsening shortness of breath and nonproductive cough over a three-week period...While RA-ILD has been associated with lung cancer, there are very few studies demonstrating it as a possible risk factor due to poorly understood pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate this association and could provide evidence for earlier screening and detection for these patients."

Cough • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Interstitial Lung Disease • Lung Adenocarcinoma • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Pulmonary Disease • Respiratory Diseases • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • Solid Tumor

Endogenous Lipoid Pneumonia in a Patient With Adult-Onset Still's Disease: A Case Report (ATS 2025) - "Case description 26-year-old gentleman nonsmoker with AOSD for five years with poor response to anti-TNF and allergic reaction to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic (DMARDS) drugs including; methotrexate, rituximab, tocilizumab, adalimumab, etanercept was managed with oral prednisolone...With prior treatment failures, anakinra was initiated...Lipoid pneumonia results from an accumulation of lipids in the alveoli and can be exogenous or endogenous. Endogenous Lipoid pneumonia is rare in ASOD with only a case report being published of a young female with respiratory symptoms within 1 year of AOSD."

Case report • Clinical • Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome • Cardiovascular • Dermatology • Hematological Disorders • Hypertension • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Interstitial Lung Disease • Oncology • Pneumonia • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension • Respiratory Diseases • Vasculitis • CD4 • CD8

Characterising infusion/injection-related reactions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic agents. (PubMed, Clin Exp Rheumatol) - "IRRs are common among RA patients receiving bDMARDs, particularly in younger individuals or those with prior leflunomide use. Abatacept, tocilizumab, and JAK inhibitors represent safer alternatives, underscoring the need for individualised treatment strategies."

Journal • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • Sjogren's Syndrome

Recommendations for the use of DMARDs in pregnancy and reproductive health for patients with rheumatic disease: A scoping review. (PubMed, Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)) - "There is heterogeneity in formulation of guidelines on the use of DMARDs in pregnancy. Recommendations for csDMARDs were similar between guidelines. There was significant variability in recommendations for b/tsDMARD use, reflecting current minimal literature in this area."

Journal • Ankylosing Spondylitis • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Lupus • Psoriatic Arthritis • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

PROSECT RP: Open-Label, Pilot Study of Effectiveness of Immunomodulatory Medications for Patients With Relapsing Polychondritis (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2 | N=20 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

New P2 trial

Prescribing Patterns and Drug Survival of Biologic and Targeted Synthetic DMARDs in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Single Center Study in Saudi Arabia (ISPOR 2025) - "Those patients were on adalimumab (n=64, 58.7%), etanercept (n=42, 38.5%), and infliximab (n=3, 2.8%). The non-TNFi class was used in 47 patients (26.9%), who were on abatacept (n=41, 87.2%), tocilizumab (n=5, 10.6%), and rituximab (n=1, 2.1%). The tsDMARD class initiated in 19 patients and tofacitinib was used in all cases... The study found that the majority of patients were initiated on TNFi. Limited by the sample size, we did not find significant differences in drug persistence, switching, or discontinuation rates among different biological drug classes."

Clinical • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Oncology • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology

Preserved CD8+ T Cells, Severe Viral Infections, Profound Immune Dysregulation, and Variable Expressivity in a Kindred with Novel, Homozygous Pathogenic ZAP70 Splice-Site Variants (CIS 2025) - "She failed therapy with methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, rituximab, tofacitinib, abatacept, tocilizumab, and adalimumab. After NIH evaluation, she was confirmed to be HLA:B27-positive and had a marked clinical response to ustekinumab without loss of viral control...Here we present a 3-member kindred with variable expressivity of a novel homozygous, hypomorphic, splice-site variant in ZAP70. While all family members suffered from severe viral infections, they also presented with multiple features not typically associated with ZAP70 deficiency, including late-onset CID, profound immune dysregulation, and relative preservation of total and memory CD8+ T cell populations."

IO biomarker • Dermatology • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis • Idiopathic Arthritis • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Inflammatory Arthritis • Lupus • Primary Immunodeficiency • Rare Diseases • Rheumatology • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus • CD4 • CD8 • PD-1 • TIGIT • ZAP70

Pathotype-Specific Expression of Granzyme-Perforin Pathway Genes and their Association with Clinical Disease Activity in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis and in a Randomized Clinical Trial (IMMUNOLOGY 2025) - "The percentage of CD8 T cells was low, and minor spackles of PG antigen were detected in eRA synovium. Rituximab and Tocilizumab in R4RA decreased the expression of all GZMs, PRF-1 and SRGN.Keywords: Animals Human; Diseases Autoimmunity Rheumatoid Arthritis; Processes Inflammation"

Clinical • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Inflammatory Arthritis • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Rheumatology • CD8 • CRP • PRF1

Feasibility and Safety of Outpatient Model for Administration of Bispecific Antibodies: Proceedings from an International Myeloma Society 21st Annual Meeting Oral Abstract. (PubMed, Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk) - "Implementation of this OP BsAb SUD protocol is feasible with acceptable risk of CRS/ICANS and hospitalization without compromising on safety. The low incidence of CRS/ ICANS with prophylactic tocilizumab and premedication and low hospitalization rates make this appealing for selected RRMM patients."

Journal • Hematological Malignancies • Multiple Myeloma • Oncology

FDG-PET/CT as a useful tool for disease activity assessment in large vessel vasculitis in childhood. (PubMed, Pediatr Rheumatol Online J) - No abstract available

Journal • Inflammation • Vasculitis

A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Activity of XmAb24306 in Combination With Cevostamab in Participants With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (clinicaltrials.gov) - P1 | N=90 | Active, not recruiting | Sponsor: Genentech, Inc. | Trial primary completion date: Mar 2026 ➔ Sep 2026

Trial primary completion date • Hematological Malignancies • Multiple Myeloma • Oncology

Maintenance of remission after tocilizumab withdrawal in patients with glucocorticoid-dependent polymyalgia rheumatica. (PubMed, Arthritis Rheumatol) - "Among patients with GC-dependent PMR, in remission after a 6-month TCZ treatment, only a minority of the patients remained relapse-free after TCZ discontinuation. This study suggests that a 6-month treatment course is not a long enough to withdraw the TCZ. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal TCZ treatment duration and strategies for cessation to prevent relapses."

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

Influence of anti-Spike protein antibody levels on tocilizumab efficacy in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a post-hoc analysis of the COVACTA trial. (PubMed, BMC Infect Dis) - "Our findings suggest that using IL-6 inhibitors in severe COVID-19 patients with low S-spike antibody titers may improve clinical outcomes."

Clinical • Journal • Retrospective data • Infectious Disease • Novel Coronavirus Disease • Pneumonia • Respiratory Diseases

Retraction: Tocilizumab inhibits neuronal cell apoptosis and activates STAT3 in cerebral infarction rat model. (PubMed, Biomol Biomed) - "2016;22:4431-7. doi:10.12659/MSM.898452."

Journal • Preclinical • Acute Kidney Injury • CNS Disorders • Colon Cancer • Colorectal Cancer • Gastric Cancer • Movement Disorders • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma • Nephrology • Oncology • Ovarian Cancer • Parkinson's Disease • Renal Disease • Solid Tumor • Squamous Cell Carcinoma • Tongue Carcinoma • MAPK8 • MIR15A • MIR181A1 • MIR183 • MIR455 • PVT1 • STAT3 • TNFA

A glimpse into the application of the immunomodulatory effect of IL-2 in systemic lupus erythematosus. (PubMed, Front Med (Lausanne)) - "In addition, we summarize major clinical application of low-dose IL-2 treatment in SLE with or without other agents, such as rapamycin, tocilizumab and rituximab, present the IL-2 variants and fusion proteins designed for SLE, and highlight the future trends for research on these cytokine-based immunotherapies. It will help to design further optimized IL-2-based therapy for SLE."

Journal • Review • Immunology • Inflammatory Arthritis • Lupus • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus • IL2 • IL2RA

SEVERE INFECTIONS AND MALIGNANCIES IN PATIENTS WITH CRANIAL AND EXTRACRANIAL GIANT CELL ARTERITIS TREATED WITH TOCILIZUMAB. (EULAR 2025) - No abstract available

Clinical • Giant Cell Arteritis • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Oncology