New drug curbs rheumatoid arthritis in adults, children

A novel drug that takes a narrow approach to quelling inflammation might be just the ticket for people with rheumatoid arthritis who react poorly to broad-spectrum medications, a new trial from Austria indicates.

The drug, called tocilizumab, might also offer a reprieve for children with hard-to-treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a Japanese study shows.