Furthermore, tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor antagonist, had favorable effects on myositis in mouse models.38–40 Serum IL-6 levels in adult and juvenile DM have been shown to parallel disease activity, and a small number of patients with refractory polymyositis have responded favorably to treatment with tocilizumab.41,42 Further evidence of tocilizumab tolerability was shown in a prospective phase IIb clinical trial where 36 patients with myositis were randomized 1:1 to receive tocilizumab or a placebo every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and dermatomyositis.