Methods for treating interleukin-6 related diseases

Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of interleukin-6 (IL-6) related diseases, comprising an interleukin-6 antagonist (IL-6 antagonist) and immunosuppressants. The IL-6 antagonist is preferably an antibody to an interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R).

1 . A method for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a patient comprising administering 4 mg/kg or 8 mg/kg of a humanized anti-human interleukin-6 receptor (anti-IL-6R) antibody to the RA patient every four weeks. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein 4 mg/kg of the anti-IL6R antibody is administered every four weeks. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein 8 mg/kg of the anti-IL6R antibody is administered every four weeks. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the anti-IL6R antibody is administered to the RA patient as a monotherapy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising administering methotrexate to the RA patient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  which improves American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response in the RA patient, wherein the ACR response is selected from the group consisting of ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the ACR response is ACR20 response. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the ACR response is ACR50 response. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the ACR response is ACR70 response. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the anti-IL-6R antibody is MRA antibody. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein 8 mg/kg of the MRA antibody is administered every four weeks. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the 8 mg/kg dose results in less anti-MRA antibody than a 4 mg/kg dose.