Russian drugmaker R-Pharm presented the latest research findings for olokizumab, a monoclonal antibody developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, to the international medical community at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, ACR Convergence 2025.
A key feature of the drug is its direct targeting of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6, which is involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and other immune-inflammatory diseases. This mechanism differs from other drugs in the same class. While the efficacy and safety of olokizumab have been established through a large-scale international clinical trial program, researchers continue to gather data on its use.
One of the world’s leading rheumatologists, professor Roy Fleischmann of the University of Texas, presented data on the status of rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving long-term olokizumab treatment. The findings, based on patient-reported outcomes, showed that over 106 weeks of treatment, patients experienced a gradual, sustained improvement, reporting less difficulty with daily tasks, as well as reduced pain and stiffness.
Further data from real-world clinical practice demonstrated that the drug’s effectiveness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was largely unaffected by the number or severity of their other co-existing conditions. Another study indicated a reduction in symptoms of depression among rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with olokizumab.
Attendees were also presented with new results from a Phase II pediatric trial, which showed that the drug’s efficacy in polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis was higher in adolescents with elevated blood levels of IL-6.
“Our poster presentations on olokizumab aroused great interest among the congress participants. Rheumatologists from various countries expressed a desire to have access to our drug. This is further proof that health care knows no borders,” said Sofia Kuzkina, Head of the Rheumatology Medical Advisors Group at R-Pharm.
Mikhail Samsonov, Medical Director at R-Pharm, noted that a successful drug launch does not mean the end of the trials. “Analyzing new clinical data is essential for identifying the most effective treatment regimens. Building on a fundamental scientific base, we are expanding our clinical trial program to cover new disease areas. This approach allows us to determine which patient populations need help most urgently,” the expert concluded.
