Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Open-Label Phase 4 Study in Patients from the Middle East

Abstract EN

This open-label study investigated the safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in Middle Eastern patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Patients whose Disease Activity Score based on 28 joints (DAS28) was >3.2 received tocilizumab 8 mg/kg intravenously every 4 weeks for 24 weeks.

Patients receiving aTNF ± nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug(s) (DMARD(s)) switched to tocilizumab; patients receiving nonbiologic DMARD monotherapy added tocilizumab.

Primary end points were adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), and laboratory parameters; secondary end points were DAS28, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Eighty-eight of 95 patients completed 24 weeks.

Overall, 125 AEs were reported in 43 (45%) patients; the most common were increased hepatic enzymes (16%) and cholesterol (11%).

Eight patients experienced SAEs.

Significant changes from baseline to week 24 occurred for hemoglobin, neutrophils, platelets, total cholesterol, and liver enzymes (P<0.05).

DAS28, CRP, and ESR decreased significantly from baseline at each visit (P<0.0001).

At week 24, the proportions of patients reporting DAS28 clinically meaningful improvement (decrease ≥1.2), low disease activity (DAS28 ≥2.6 to ≤3.2), and remission (DAS28 <2.6) were 92%, 23%, and 64%, respectively.

Safety and efficacy of tocilizumab were consistent with values reported in Western patients.