tocilizumab

noun

to·​ci·​liz·​u·​mab ˌtō-sə-ˈli-zü-ˌmab 

: an immunosuppressive drug that is a monoclonal antibody which binds to cell receptors and blocks the action of interleukin-6 and that is administered by injection to treat various inflammatory conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis)

Tocilizumab specifically blocks the action of the inflammatory protein interleukin-6, which shows up in excessive amounts in joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

—Nathan Seppa

Examples of tocilizumab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers found that giving tocilizumab before reperfusion reduced blood neutrophil levels and MI size more markedly in men than in women. —New Atlas, 16 Feb. 2025

In the same way, pregnant patients’ biological ages were restored during postpartum recovery, and patients recovering from COVID-19 had their biological age enhanced after using the immunosuppressive drug tocilizumab. —L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 21 Apr. 2023

Those treated with tocilizumab were less likely to need mechanical ventilation by day 28 (12% vs. 19% when compared to standard care). —Verywell Health, 27 Jan. 2023

At the start of the Covid pandemic, researchers offered all sorts of theories about medicines — hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and tocilizumab among them — that might help to treat Covid. —Matthew Herper, STAT, 3 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

tocili- (of undetermined origin) + -zu-, prefix denoting humanized antibodies (antibodies from non-human species with protein sequences modified to increase similarity to human antibodies) (probably from letters in humanize) + -mab, combining element denoting a monoclonal antibody

Note: According to the prescriptions of the U.S. Adopted Names Council, the initial element in generic drug names is to be meaningless.

First Known Use

2004, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tocilizumab

• bevacizumab
• trastuzumab