The R-Pharm Group Announces Artlegia (olokizumab) Registration in Kazakhstan for Rheumatoid Arthritis
R-Pharm, a group of pharmaceutical companies, reports the registration of its innovative drug Artlegia, with the active substance olokizumab, in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This milestone also aligns with updated treatment guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, reinforcing Artlegia as part of the national approach to autoimmune disease management. The development marks a significant step in extending access to cutting edge therapies for patients who live with rheumatoid arthritis in Central Asia.
Artlegia holds the distinction of being the world’s first monoclonal antibody designed to directly neutralize interleukin-6 (IL-6) by targeting the cytokine itself, rather than its receptor. This direct mechanism offers a distinct therapeutic pathway and reflects ongoing innovation in cytokine blockade strategies used to modulate immune responses in autoimmune conditions.
The clinical profile of Artlegia has been explored through the CREDO program, a long-term international research effort that has enrolled more than 2,400 patients across 19 countries. Within this program, the ongoing evaluation of safety and efficacy has been conducted to understand the drug’s performance over extended periods. During the EULAR 2022 conference, held in June, researchers presented data from the long-term safety and efficacy assessments of Artlegia within the CREDO4 study, underscoring the drug’s potential role in sustaining disease control while monitoring for adverse events in diverse patient populations. The conference highlighted the importance of long-term data in shaping confidence among clinicians about new therapeutic options for complex autoimmune diseases.
Speaking about the broader mission, an executive at R-Pharm emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding access to advanced therapies beyond Russia to partner regions. The leadership noted that Kazakhstan’s healthcare system will soon have a robust tool to address serious autoimmune disorders, a development that could have ripple effects for neighboring markets within the Eurasian Economic Union and beyond. This inclusive outlook reflects a strategic priority of aligning regulatory approvals with real-world need, ensuring that patients in the region benefit from evidence-based advances in immunology and rheumatology care.
Olokizumab received approval from the Russian Ministry of Health in the spring of 2020 under the trade name Artlegia. Earlier in the same year, the drug was registered in the Republic of Azerbaijan, marking the beginning of its international regulatory journey. Since those early regulatory steps, the product has undergone further evaluation and integration into broader clinical practice guidelines, illustrating a trajectory that many innovative biologics follow as they move from local markets to regional and global awareness. The ongoing expansion of Artlegia’s availability demonstrates a persistent effort to translate scientific discoveries into tangible treatment options for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
In summary, Artlegia represents a pioneering approach to targeting IL-6 directly, with substantial clinical program data supporting its safety and efficacy profile over extended use. Kazakhstan’s adoption of Artlegia within national guidelines signals a collaborative effort to broaden access to novel immunotherapies, while ongoing international studies continue to inform best practices for patient selection, monitoring, and long-term outcomes. The global strategy remains focused on delivering meaningful options to those most in need, as the medical community accumulates experience with direct IL-6 blockade and its place in comprehensive rheumatoid arthritis management. [Source attribution: R-Pharm communications and conference materials]”