Generic name:tocilizumab [ TOE-si-LIZ-oo-mab ]
Drug class:Interleukin inhibitors
What is Actemra?
Actemra reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation.
Actemra is used in adults to treat:
moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis after at least one other medicine has been used and did not work;
giant cell arteritis, (inflammation in the lining of the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body); and
to slow the decline in lung function caused by scleroderma with interstitial lung disease.
Actemra is used in adults and children 2 years and older to treat:
polyarticular or systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis ("Still disease"); and
severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS, an overactive immune response to certain blood cell treatments for cancer).
Actemra is sometimes given together with other medications as part of your complete treatment.
Actemra is also being studied for use in treating coronavirus. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized emergency use of Actemra with steroid medicine to treat adults and children at least 2 years old who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and using supplemental oxygen, a ventilator, or ECMO (a heart-lung machine that helps increase oxygen in your blood).
Actemra has not been approved to treat coronavirus or COVID-19. This medicine is not for use in treating COVID-19 outside of a hospital.
Warnings
Actemra affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a
