New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Works for Adults, Children

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The study was funded by Chugai Pharmaceuticals.

Bongartz said tocilizumab may be worth a try with pediatric patients.

"The treatment options are pretty sparse, and children usually don't respond very well to methotrexate or other drugs, so here I think it's easier to decide in favor of initiating tocilizumab therapy," Bongartz said. "My threshold for initiating tocilizumab therapy would be lower, because I can't offer these children a lot of other choices."

New treatment options against rheumatoid arthritis are always welcome, Bongartz said. Still, he is cautious about using tocilizumab.

"It's another opportunity to offer treatment to patients who don't respond to first-, second- or third-line therapy, but I don't know if it works better than other established therapies. Based on the data available, it's almost impossible to make an informed decision about its benefits or potential harm," Bongartz said.

More information

For more on arthritis, visit the Arthritis Association.