Actemra
Actemra Criteria
Actemra Additional Information
Manufacturer
Genentech (Roche subsidiary)
Generic Name
Tocilizumab
Treatment for
Rheumatoid and giant cell arthritis drug
Immuncoresponsive drug
Actemra is an immunoresponsive drug (IL-6 receptor inhibitors) that was approved in 2010, and has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, interstitial lung disease, heat failure, acute pancreatitis, brain bleeds and other life threatening complications.
June 2017
A report by Statenews.com identified thousands of adverse event reports submitted to the FDA over the past seven years, and has been linked to at least 1,128 deaths.
Study
The Phase 3 clinical study, GIACTA, showed that serious adverse events occurred in 15% (roughly 1:7) patients using Actemra in the study. Competing L-6 receptor inhibitors such as Humira, Enbrel, and Remicade, contain strong warnings against the above side effects. Actemra does not.