AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RHEUMATOLOGY: Tocilizumab responses durable to 2 years in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
In patients with severe, refractory, persistent systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), long-term treatment with tocilizumab induces significant, durable responses with acceptable toxicity, according to results from a multicenter phase 3 trial presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, Chicago.
In patients with severe, refractory, persistent systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), long-term treatment with tocilizumab induces significant, durable responses with acceptable toxicity, according to results from a multicenter phase 3 trial presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, Chicago.
Two-year results from the ongoing 5-year study were presented by Fabrizio De Benedetti, MD, from IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu in Rome.
In the trial, 112 children aged 2 to 17 years old with disease activity for at least 6 months were randomly assigned to receive placebo or tocilizumab, with dosage based on body weight. Tocilizumab was given intravenously every 2 weeks at doses of 12 mg/kg for children with a body weight <30 kg or 8 mg/kg for children ≥30 kg. Concomitant stable doses of methotrexate, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids were permitted. Most children presented with very active disease.
Sixty-one patients received at least 104 weeks of tocilizumab treatment. Among these patients, more than 60% achieved a JIA ACR90 response, 88% achieved a JIA ACR70 response, and 60% were able to discontinue oral corticosteroids by week 104. The rate of serious infections was 22 per 100 person-years and the overall rate of serious adverse events remotely, possibly, or probably due to tocilizumab was 15 per 100 person-years.
David Calabrese of OptumRx Talks Top Three Drugs in Pipeline, Industry Trends in Q2
July 1st 2020In this week's episode of Tuning Into The C-Suite podcast, MHE's Briana Contreras chatted with David Calabrese, R.Ph, MHP, who is senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer of pharmacy care services company, OptumRx. David is also a member of Managed Healthcare Executives’ Editorial Advisory Board. During the discussion, he shared the OptumRx Quarter 2 Drug Pipeline Insights Report of 2020. Some of the information shared includes the three notable drugs currently being reviewed or those that have been recently approved by the FDA. Also discussed were any interesting industry trends to watch for.
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