In this article, we will discuss ACTEMRA® (Overview). So, let’s get started.
ACTEMRA® (tocilizumab) is an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist.
Indication and Usage
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
ACTEMRA (tocilizumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic
Drugs (DMARDs).
Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (PJIA)
ACTEMRA (tocilizumab) is indicated for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years of age and older.
Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA)
ACTEMRA” (tocilizumab) is indicated for the treatment of active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years of age and older.
Dosage Forms and Strengths
Single-use vials of ACTEMRA (20 mg per mL) for IV administration:
• 80 mg per 4 mL
• 200 mg per 10 mL
• 400 mg per 20 mL
Prefilled Syringe (PFS) for SC administration:
• A single-use prefilled glass syringe providing 162 mg of ACTEMRA in 0.9mL
Contraindications
ACTEMRA is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to ACTEMRA.
Warning: Risk of Serious Infections
Patients treated with ACTEMRA are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids.
If a serious infection develops, interrupt ACTEMRA until the infection is controlled.
Reported infections include:
• Active tuberculosis, which may present with pulmonary or extrapulmonary disease. Patients should be tested for latent tuberculosis before ACTEMRA use and during therapy. Treatment for latent
infection should be initiated prior to ACTEMRA use.
• Invasive fungal infections, including candidiasis, aspergillosis, and pneumocystis. Patients with invasive fungal infections may present with disseminated, rather than localized, disease.
• Bacterial, viral and other infections due to opportunistic pathogens.
The risks and benefits of treatment with ACTEMRA should be carefully considered prior to initiating therapy in patients with chronic or recurrent infection.
Patients should be closely monitored for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with ACTEMRA, including the possible development of tuberculosis in patients who tested negative for latent tuberculosis infection prior to initiating therapy.