Kevzara

[salparadise127]

Has anyone tried this Biologic called Kevzara? My Rheumi says its a new treatment for PMR

[piglette]

PMRPro did a nice write up on this recently "Scientists achieve breakthrough in treating 'neglected' polymyalgia rheumatica" - that's the headline but don't get too excited ... healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Now you have posted, there are a couple of Related Posts listed. It is only approved in the USA and that very recently so there aren't many on it as yet, It is unlikely to be approved in the UK which is where the majority of our members are.

It is an IL-6 inhibitor, just like Actemra/tocilizumab and sarilimubab but has a different mechanism. I am on tocilizumab for PMR, It got me from nearly 20mg pred down to 7mg but I am stuck there. Partly due to reluctant adrenal function but also I think because there are other mechanisms for the inflammation which aren/t addressed by an IL-6 inhibitor - they are extremely specific in their action,

[artfingers]

I met with my Rheumatologist who prescribed it for me three months ago. (I'm in the U.S.) Trouble is it would cost me $6,000 a month as Blue Cross Blue Shield won't cover it. SOOOO, you can apply for the pharma co. patient assistance program thru Kevzara Connect (then it would be free if you qualify based on income). But they are very backed up with applications so I'm still waiting. I plan to try it so I can get lower than 5 1/2mg I'm currently at (split dose). I'll report back.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to artfingers]

If I had been at under 6mg I wouldn't have bothered with Actemra - same applies for Kevzara. I'm far from convinced that low a dose of pred even longterm justifies the use of a biologic.

[msdale]

Hi - I am also in the U.S. Just my two cents - My rheumatologist wants me to try Kezvara and use grants that are supposed to be available to pay for it. However, I have found no information regarding long term use, how one then gets off the Kezvara. I mean, what if the grant money is no longer given and one is now stuck on a $14,000 a year drug? Also - be sure to read the black box warning - not to scare you, but it did make me think twice. (I am currently on 5 mg with many flares after five years, 10 being the highest I was ever on.) I will be on the lookout for data from longer-term users and will post if I find out anything in that regard. Even my rheumatologist wasn't sure on the point of how/if/when one comes off the Kezvara because it has only been fairly recently approved for PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to msdale]

It has only been approved for a short time - there will be no long term data for it yet. Like Actemra, you will be able to stop it without tapering and the most likely effect will be requiring to return to a higher dose of pred to manage any return of symptoms. Like Actemra - it is a very expensive steroid sparer that works well.

[msdale in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your input and reply