Experience of using the interleukin-6 inhibitor olokizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in real-life clinical practice (based on data from Tyumen Regional Rheumatology Center)

The Tyumen Regional Rheumatology Center has gained experience in the use of the interleukin-6 inhibitor olokizumab (OKZ) in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OKZ therapy in patients with RA in real-life clinical practice.

Material and methods. The analysis included 75 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RA who were prescribed OKZ at a dose of 64 mg every 4 weeks. All patients underwent a standard clinical and laboratory examination and concomitant diseases were recorded. The results were evaluated after 1, 6 and 12 months of therapy. A retrospective evaluation of radiological outcomes was performed in 20 patients who had received OKZ for at least 1 year.

Results and discussion. After only one month of OKZ treatment, the proportion of patients with high RA activity according to DAS28-CRP decreased statistically significantly from 81% to 53.3%. After 6 months, 55 (73.33%) of 75 patients continued OKZ therapy, and most of them (74.55%) achieved the stage of drug remission, while high RA activity was not detected. After 12 months, 43 (57.33%) of the 75 patients continued OKZ therapy, with low activity and remission observed in 16.2 and 69.8% of them, respectively. During these periods, there was no radiological progression of RA against the background of OKZ therapy. Ten patients (13.33%) discontinued OKZ therapy due to insufficient efficacy, 2 (2.67%) due to pregnancy, 14 (18.67%) due to adverse events and 6 (8%) for other reasons.

Conclusion. In real-world clinical practice, OKZ showed significant therapeutic potential and a favorable safety profile in patients with RA.

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