Treatment with tocilizumab could result in stabilization or improvement in lung function among individuals with early interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD), suggests a new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

This was a post hoc analysis of data from a phase 3, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of subcutaneous tocilizumab conducted among patients with SSc and progressive skin disease. There were 210 participants in the trial, of which 136 had interstitial lung disease at baseline and received 162 mg tocilizumab weekly or placebo for 48 weeks. Patients receiving tocilizumab had a 0.1% mean decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) over the study period, while those receiving placebo reported a mean decline of 6.3%... (Medscape)