Tocilizumab (Actemra)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Tocilizumab

What it is

Tocilizumab is a biologic medicine, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the receptor for interleukin-6, a signal that drives inflammation. Given by drip or injection, it is used for rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, giant cell arteritis, cytokine release syndrome after CAR-T cell therapy and severe COVID-19. It is sold as Actemra and RoActemra.

How genes come into it

As an antibody, tocilizumab is not broken down by drug-processing enzymes. Studies have looked mainly at IL6R, the gene for its target receptor, linking some variants to response in rheumatoid arthritis, and at the antibody receptors FCGR2A and FCGR3A and at CD69 and GALNT18. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Tocilizumab. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (6 rated variants)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

IL6R rs12083537: Level 3. Efficacy: Rheumatoid arthritis. 2.

FCGR3A rs396991: Level 3. Efficacy: Rheumatoid arthritis. 1.

IL6R rs11265618: Level 3. Efficacy: Rheumatoid arthritis. 1.

CD69 rs11052877: Level 3. Efficacy: Rheumatoid arthritis. 1.

Response (22 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

rs10108210: Genotype AA is associated with decreased clinical benefit to tocilizumab in people with Rheumatoid arthritis as compared to genotypes AC + CC.

CD69 rs11052877: Allele A is associated with increased response to tocilizumab in people with Arthritis, Rheumatoid as compared to allele G.

CLEC2D rs1560011: Genotype GG is associated with increased clinical benefit to tocilizumab in people with Rheumatoid arthritis.

FCGR2A rs1801274: Genotypes AG + GG is associated with increased response to abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab or Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors in people with Arthritis, Rheumatoid as compared to genotype AA.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Kevzara (IL-6 Inhibitors)

Agenerase (Protease Inhibitors)

Allegra (Antihistamines)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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