Optimisation of anti-interleukin-6 therapy: Precision medicine through mathematical modelling

BACKGROUND: Dysregulated interleukin (IL)-6 production can be characterised by the levels present, the kinetics of its rise and its inappropriate location. Rapid, excessive IL-6 production can exacerbate tissue damage in vital organs. In this situation, therapy with an anti-IL-6 or anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody, if inappropriately dosed, may be insufficient to fully block IL-6 signalling and normalise the immune response. METHODS: We analysed inhibition of C-reactive protein (CRP) – a biomarker for IL-6 activity – in patients with COVID-19 or idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) treated with tocilizumab (anti-IL-6R) or siltuximab (anti-IL-6), respectively. We used mathematical modelling to analyse how to optimise anti-IL-6 or anti-IL-6R blockade for the high levels of IL-6 observed in these diseases. RESULTS: IL-6 signalling was insufficiently inhibited in patients with COVID-19 or iMCD treated with standard doses of anti-IL-6 therapy. Patients whose disease worsened throughout therapy had only partial inhibition of CRP production. Our model demonstrated that, in a scenario representative of iMCD with persistent high IL-6 production not controlled by a single dose of anti-IL-6 therapy, repeated administration more effectively inhibited IL-6 activity. In a situation with rapid, high, dysregulated IL-6 production, such as severe COVID-19 or a cytokine storm, repeated daily administration of an anti-IL-6/anti-IL-6R agent, or alternating daily doses of anti-IL-6 and anti-IL-6R therapies, could neutralise IL-6 activity. CONCLUSION: In clinical practice, IL-6 inhibition should be individualised based on pathophysiology to achieve full blockade of CRP production. FUNDING: EUSA Pharma funded medical writing assistance and provided access to the phase II clinical data of siltuximab for analysis.