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VIDEO: Calabrese discusses tocilizumab trial
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WASHINGTON — At the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, rheumatologist at the Cleveland Clinic and Chief Medical Editor of Healio Rheumatology, reviewed a tocilizumab trial conducted by John H. Stone, MD, as well as other advancements made in the field of vasculitis.
Calabrese said Stone’s trial showed tocilizumab could control giant cell arteritis with minimal doses of steroids and had a significantly reduced relapse rate. Based on the results, Calabrese expects fast-track approval for tocilizumab, although he questioned the appropriate dose, potential toxicity in larger trials and which patients will receive it.
Calabrese also mentioned there were advances in trying to understand the regimens for maintenance remission for patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. He said B-cells and ANCA titres could serve as potential biomarkers for the disease.