What is Actemra used to treat?

Actemra is FDA-approved to treat several different conditions that have inflammation as a common characteristic, such as:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): May be used to treat adults who have not responded adequately to one or more Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). RA is an autoimmune condition that causes fatigue, pain, swelling, and joint deformity
• Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA): GCA is an inflammation of the lining of the arteries and Actemra may be used to treat adults with this condition
• Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (SSc-ILD): SSC-ILD is characterized by inflammation and progressive scarring of the lungs that can lead to respiratory failure and Actemra can be used to slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function in adults
• Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (PJIA): PJIA is a type of juvenile arthritis that is characterized by 5 or more stiff, swollen, and painful joints and Actemra may be used to treat PJIA in children aged 2 years and older
• Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA): SJIA is a rare and serious subtype of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) that causes inflammation throughout the body and Actemra may be used to treat SJIA in children aged 2 years and older
• Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS): CRS is a collection of symptoms that can develop as a side effect of certain types of immunotherapy, especially those that involve T-cells. Actemra may be used to treat severe or life-threatening CRS in adults and children aged 2 years of age and older
• Actemra has been approved by the FDA to be used as a treatment for hospitalized adults with COVID-19 who are receiving corticosteroids plus supplemental oxygen, on non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This was based on the results of four trials that showed that giving Actemra to people with COVID-19 decreased their risk of dying. The use of Actemra to treat hospitalized people aged 2 to 18 years old remains under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and is not FDA-approved
• COVID-19 in hospitalized adults who are receiving corticosteroids plus supplemental oxygen, on non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The use of Actemra to treat hospitalized people aged 2 to 18 years old with COVID-19 remains under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and is not FDA-approved.