Sarilumab: A Review in Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sarilumab (Kevzara^®), a monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, is approved in various countries, including the USA, those of the EU, and Japan, as a subcutaneous treatment administered every 2 weeks for moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults who have responded inadequately to, or are intolerant of, one or more DMARDs. In placebo-controlled trials, sarilumab improved the signs and symptoms of RA, as well as physical function and health-related quality-of-life (HR-QOL), when administered in combination with conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) therapy in patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate or an inadequate response to, or intolerance of, at least one tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor; benefits were sustained over ≤ 3 years' therapy in an open-label extension. Sarilumab plus methotrexate inhibited the progression of structural damage in patients who had inadequately responded to methotrexate. As monotherapy in patients who were inappropriate for continued treatment with methotrexate, sarilumab was more effective than adalimumab in reducing the signs and symptoms of RA and improving physical function. The safety profile of sarilumab was consistent with the anticipated effects of IL-6 inhibition. In the minority of patients who tested positive for anti-drug antibodies (ADAs), ADAs did not impact efficacy or increase adverse reactions. Thus, sarilumab extends the available treatment options for adults with moderately to severely active RA who have responded inadequately to, or are intolerant of, at least one DMARD.