Tocilizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits the IL-6 receptor, used to treat various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Marketed as Actemra, this biologic medication is approved for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), adults with giant cell arteritis (GCA), adults with systemic sclerosis complicated by interstitial lung disease, and individuals aged 2 and above with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) or systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA). Tocilizumab works by blocking the inflammatory protein IL-6, thereby alleviating joint pain, reducing swelling from arthritis, and mitigating other inflammation-related symptoms.
