Tocilizumab/Actemra - and biosimilars

[PMRpro]

I thought with all the discussion about using Actemra in GCA people might find this article interesting:

scrip.pharmamedtechbi.com/-...

Actemra's patent is due to expire in the next few years and at least 3 companies are testing biosimilars - drugs that are near enough identical in action to the original substance. Other drugs that do much the same thing are close to market too - and while they will have to compete against fairly well-established Actemra, all these factors will put pressure on the companies to market their drugs at more competitive prices.

So, while it doesn't help us a lot at present, by 2022 there is likely to be a choice of drugs that would be effective in GCA and PMR and they are likely to be more reasonably priced. Though they will never be as cheap as corticosteroids...

We can live in hope.

[HeronNS]

And then the other shoe drops. spglawfirm.com/defective-dr...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Ta - someone mentioned it on another thread, but didn't give details.

[patsy69 in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry this is not a relevant reply but I can't seem to do a new post on this machine. I have gone from 15 to 0.5. prednisolone in 18 months. Each time I reduce I have all usual symptoms but I seem really stuck for last 6 weeks . I am really keen to stop prednisolone as it has given me raised intra ocular pressure which I control with drops. It worries me because I also have age related macular degeneration . I have seen before from you and Dorsett lady that it has to be slow at this stage. I think I just want to confirm that I am not just a wimp. Patsy69

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to patsy69]

You have done extremely well to get to 0.5mg at all, never mind in 18 months. If 0.5mg is managing the problems - really don't worry about it. It is WAY below the amount of corticosteroid your body needs to function anyway and is not going to be contributing to your occular pressure readings. You are definitely not a wimp - some people are very lucky and need a very low dose of pred to ward off PMR but still can't get off altogether.

[patsy69 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR Pro. I really find the support of this group invaluable. I have learnt more than from any other source from you all. since a mail months ago discussing the diunrnal fluctuation in corticosteroids l have observed that my own symptoms correlate ie.worse in mornings and later in day. Do you know of anyone who has had raised intraocular pressure and retuned to normal after stopping steroids?.

I have a cousin who has had PMR twice she is fine now, she was only 50s first time.Patsy69

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to patsy69]

Can't quote names off the top of my head but I know there are people on the forums who had raised pressures, sometimes not enough to require treatment, which returned to normal range after stopping pred.

[patsy69 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks again, the plan is that I get off the prednisolone ASAP and then stop the monopost drops. Then they will check that the pressures stay down , just hoping that it is a side effect and not intrinsic. It is a pain though because I have not really had any problem with prednisolone, it works and the moon face suited me. Its the reduction that is hard. Although the calcium etc. Is a nuisance Patsy69

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to patsy69]

I'm sure the plan IS to get off pred asap. Unfortunately if the cause of the PMR is still active all that will happen is the symptoms come back. It's a balancing act - find the dose that manages the symptoms and then manage the other aspects. If it means using drops, it means using drops I'm afraid.

If you don't take enough pred it isn't worth taking any - eventually the inflammation mounts up and you are back in a real flare.

[patsy69 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks again, I am still on the 0.5prednisolone and I think I need to continue, the ache and stiffness would be bearable with some occasional painkillers but the absence of energy is dire. I remember that article you gave us access to some months ago asking sufferers what they felt and I find it so true now it's as though the illness steals ones get up and go. My husband wants us to enjoy our retirement which involves travelling about a lot and I go along and usually enjoy it but come back exhausted patsy 69

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to patsy69]

If the fatigue is that bad maybe you need just a little bit more while your adrenal glands wriggle back to life.

[Gosingen]

Thanks PMR pro, have printed off, will read with interest, like you say... we live in hope.

[GOOD_GRIEF]

You might want to Google the class action suit just filed on Actemra. It seems it has side effects not previously disclosed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

I have read about it - there is a thread running on the topic and Heron also mentioned it above.

This something different though - many people complain there is no work being done. There is - and this is part of it.

[Lucy0101]

FDA approved Sarilumab (Kevzara) Feb. 2023 for PMR. Already approved for RA in US.

Don’t know much about it but sounds similar to Actemra.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lucy0101]

Works on the same cytokine, IL-6, but in a different way.

By the way - did you notice the thread is 6 years old?

[Lucy0101 in reply to PMRpro]

No, sorry, didn't pay that much attention…still puzzled about why all these old threads pop up. But my fault, will be better about that next time.

Thank you for pointing that out and for all the help that you continually provide the users.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lucy0101]

Ask HU techies!!!! They might be able to account for it. Did it come to you as a notification by email? They WILL appear as Related Posts when you ask about something specific in your own post but unless you followed it originally, as I do, then there is no reason for you to be told about it.