Interleukin-6: a new therapeutic target

• Published in: Arthritis research & therapy 2006-01, Vol.8 Suppl 2 (Suppl 2), p.S5-S5
• Main Authors: Smolen, Josef S, Maini, Ravinder N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute-Phase Reaction - drug therapy; Acute-Phase Reaction - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; B cells; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Health aspects; Humans; Interleukins; Receptors, Interleukin-6 - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Interleukin-6 - immunology; Review; Rheumatoid factor; T cells; Tumor necrosis factor
• ISSN: 1478-6354; 1478-6362
• DOI: 10.1186/ar1969

The therapeutic success of biological agents, especially the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, has opened a new chapter in the book of therapies for rheumatoid arthritis. Nevertheless, more than 50% of patients may not respond by > 50% improvement. New compounds have recently entered the treatment arena. One of these is rituximab, which depletes B cells, and another, abatacept, interferes with T-cell co-stimulation. However, although these agents may be effective in a number of patients who fail to respond to TNF blockade, they only rarely induce remission and overall 50% response rates do not exceed those with the TNF inhibitors. Among the major proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 plays a pleiotropic role both in terms of activating the inflammatory response and osteoclastogenesis. Here, we review recent phase II trials of tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody that achieves a significant therapeutic response rate.