All 10 patients who received the CTL119 cells experienced mild cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a known potentially lethal type of toxicity, within a few days after receiving their infusions; however, none required treatment
with tocilizumab, an immunosuppressant drug that blocks the effects of the inflammatory cytokine IL - 6.
The researchers gave one participant in the study, who had already lost the use of one eye, a drug
called tocilizumab to block interleukin - 6 after reattaching her retina.
Nine patients were treated
with tocilizumab, an immunosuppressant drug that blocks the effects of the inflammatory cytokine IL - 6, which have been found to spike during the most robust phase of the engineered cells» expansion in the body.
Regulators noted that they will require special training for anyone involved in delivering this therapy, while expanding the approval of Actemra (
tocilizumab) to treat CAR T - cell - induced severe or life - threatening CRS in patients 2 years of age or older.
Hill and colleagues treated 48 transplant patients with
tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis that blocks the IL - 6 receptor on cell surfaces.
Neither tocilizumab nor naïve T cell depletion has yet proved its worth in randomized studies, however.
Nine of the 12 patients in those two groups experienced CRS and recovered after treatment with
tocilizumab and / or steroids.
All 35 patients were evaluable for toxicity, with 19 experiencing varying degrees of CRS, four of who were treated with
tocilizumab.
All six had cytokine release syndrome (CRS), from which they recovered after treatment with
tocilizumab, an immunosuppressant drug that blocks the effects of the inflammatory cytokine IL - 6.
He added that his own personal bias is that if CRS does not improve with
tocilizumab, «more isn't going to help.
Clinical studies have shown that
tocilizumab is effective in decreasing signs and symptoms and in slowing radiographic progression in RA patients who have failed other DMARD therapies.