Giant cell arteritis: What happens when biologic therapy stops?

New data on tocilizumab underlines its limitations for durable remission, a leading rheumatologist says
Clare Pain
senior woman with headache pain in her temples

Most patients achieving remission from giant cell arteritis with tocilizumab will relapse after ceasing therapy, according to findings from an extension to the pivotal GiACTA trial.

The study found 29% of patients achieving drug-free remission after a year on the biologic had this sustained for two years after stopping the therapy.