Sarilumab – a comparative review of the safety and effectiveness

This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of sarilumab (Kevzara) compared to other drugs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They found that sarilumab is similarly or more effective than other RA drugs.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term condition. RA is caused by inflammation. Treating RA involves taking medication to reduce this. These medications are called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). There are many different proteins, chemicals, and receptors involved in inflammation. Synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) are usually the first treatment used for RA. These usually target multiple pathways involved in inflammation.

Over time, some patients may find that csDMARDs no longer manage symptoms. Using more selective drugs can improve RA symptoms. Sarilumab is a biologic DMARD (bDMARD). It blocks the interleukin-6 (Il-6) receptor. This stops specific pathways involved in the activation of inflammatory cells. Sarilumab is used in combination with csDMARDs to treat RA. It is unclear if sarilumab alone is as effective as other DMARDs in RA. 

This study reviewed 9 clinical reports on sarilumab. In these trials, sarilumab alone was compared to csDMARDs. It was also compared to other bDMARDs. RA symptoms were assessed using standard scoring systems. 

Sarilumab was more effective than adalimumab (Humira; a bDMARD) in all scoring systems. It was also was more effective than tofacitinib (Xelijanz; a bDMARD). Sarilumab was more effective than csDMARDs on all scores except one. Sarilumab was similarly effective compared to a number of other bDMARDs. The safety profile of sarilumab was similar to other bDMARD treatments.

The authors concluded that sarilumab is safe and effective in patients with RA.

This was an indirect comparison between drugs. Further direct comparisons are needed.

If you have any concerns regarding RA treatment, please consult with your physician.