Placental transfer: monkey fetal plasma 39% and 60% of maternal at 10 and 50 mg/kg/day
“In a segment II-embryo-foetal development study in cynomolgus monkeys foetal plasma concentrations of tocilizumab were 39% and 60% of the maternal plasma concentration after application of 10 and 50 mg/kg/day, resp.”
Neutropenia from IL-6R blockade, without bone marrow changes in monkeys
“A signal toward reduction of neutrophils was observed in the 2-week toxicity study with a clear pronounced manifestation in the 4-week daily treatment cynomolgus study with no manifestation in the bone marrow.”
In vitro whole-blood cytokine release far below alemtuzumab/TGN1412 controls; no effects on monkey TDAR, lymphocyte subsets or serum cytokines; ADA in some monkeys