Sirukumab: a promising therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, which has a negative impact on the ability to perform activities daily. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) wields pleiotropic biological effects that are crucially implicated in the activation of acute inflammatory response. Sirukumab is a monoclonal antibody with high affinity for IL-6.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors examine sirukumab as a novel agent and its potential use in the treatment of RA focusing on the available data. Data from Phase I to Phase III indicate that sirukumab is generally safe and well tolerated by the patients with decreased inflammatory response. Sirukumab is currently awaiting approval by health authorities in Europe, the United States (U.S.) and Japan, as a subcutaneous (s.c.) therapy option for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severely active RA.

Expert opinion: Given the currently available literature on IL-6 and the IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab, one could consider sirukumab as an attractive and promising alternative for RA therapy. Even if some Phase III trials are still ongoing and complete results are not fully available, sirukumab is clinically efficacious with a well-tolerated safety profile, and demonstrates non-inferiority when compared to TNFα inhibitors.

KEYWORDS:

• Biologics
• IL-6
• monoclonal antibody
• rheumatoid arthritis
• sirukumab
• SIRROUND trials

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not been funded.