New drug curbs rheumatoid arthritis in adults, children
By Nathan Seppa
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.
Tocilizumab specifically blocks the action of the inflammatory protein interleukin-6, which shows up in excessive amounts in joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients.