Drug updated on 4/29/2024
| Dosage Form | Injection (subcutaneous; 150 mg/1.14 mL, 200 mg/1.14 mL) |
| Drug Class | Interleukin-6 receptor antagonists |
| Ongoing and Completed Studies | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Indication
- Indicated for treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
- Indicated for treatment of adult patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or who cannot tolerate corticosteroid taper.
Summary
- Sarilumab (Kevzara) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and for adult patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or cannot tolerate corticosteroid taper.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that sarilumab, in combination with corticosteroids, might reduce mortality in severe or critical COVID-19 cases; however, when used alone it suggested an increase in the risk of death.
- In a network meta-analysis comparing efficacy and safety indicators of various DMARDs including Sarilumab, Tocilizumab was ranked as having better efficacy and safety than other drugs while no significant difference was observed among these drugs regarding incidence of adverse reactions.
- Another study showed improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio reduction in patient mortality rate after using sarilumab but there were no notable differences between comparison groups indicating its safe use without any major adverse events.
- Seven Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses were reviewed providing insights into the effectiveness and safety profile of Sarilumab compared to other similar treatments available on market today.
- Despite some promising results from individual studies showing potential benefits associated with reduced mortality rates especially when combined with steroids during severe COVID-19 infection stages further research is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn about overall effectiveness due its increased risk factor when administered alone.
Product Monograph / Prescribing Information
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kevzara (sarilumab) Prescribing Information. | 2023 | Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC., Bridgewater, NJ |
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
Clinical Practice Guidelines
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. | 2021 | Arthritis Care & Research |
| EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: 2019 update. | 2020 | Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases |
| Clinical practice guidelines management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. | 2019 | Spanish Society of Rheumatology |