Tofidence (Tocilizumab-Bavi) for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview
Tofidence is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to at least one disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Tofidence is also indicated to treat people 2 years of age and older with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) or active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA). Tofidence is also referred to by its drug name, tocilizumab-bavi.

Tofidence is an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist and an approved biosimilar drug to tocilizumab (Actemra). It may also be called a monoclonal antibody. Tofidence is believed to work by blocking receptors that cause inflammation in RA, PJIA, and SJIA.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Tofidence is an injection for IV infusion in a health care setting. When combined with DMARDs or used alone for adults with RA, the recommended starting dose is 4 milligrams per kilogram every four weeks. This is followed by an increase to 8 milligrams per kilogram every four weeks, based on how the person responds to the medication. Tofidence for PJIA and SJIA has different dosage recommendations.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Tofidence lists common side effects including upper respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis (the common cold), headache, high blood pressure, and increased alanine transaminase (a liver enzyme).

Rare but serious side effects listed for Tofidence include serious infections, holes in the gastrointestinal tract, liver damage, severe allergic reaction, and risk of infection with live vaccine, as well as changes in blood levels of neutrophils, platelets, and lipids.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

FDA Approves Biogen’s Tofidence (Tocilizumab-Bavi), a Biosimilar Referencing Actemra — Biogen
https://investors.biogen.com/news-releases/news...

Tofidence — Drugs.com
https://www.drugs.com/tofidence.html