Cynomolgus monkey collagen-induced arthritis model
“In a cynomolgus monkey model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), tocilizumab was shown to prevent both the local joint and the systemic inflammatory disease manifestations.”
Tocilizumab cross-reacts with monkey IL-6R; it does not bind rat, mouse or rabbit IL-6R
“The cynomolgus monkey was chosen as the pharmacologically relevant species because tocilizumab cross-reacts with monkey IL-6R under in vitro and in vivo conditions.”
EMA: pharmacology programme showed specific binding to soluble and membrane IL-6R and blockade of IL-6 activity
“The preclinical pharmacology programme showed that tocilizumab specifically binds to the IL-6 binding site of both sIL-6R and mIL-6R with similar affinity. Therefore, tocilizumab is able to block IL-6 from binding to both receptors and thereby blocks the activity of IL-6.”