A Common Arthritis Drug Appears to Work When Antidepressants Don't

A four-week proof-of-concept study tested tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor blocker used for rheumatoid arthritis, in 30 people with moderate-to-severe depression.

Participants had not improved on antidepressants and showed signs of inflammation; tocilizumab outperformed placebo on depression-related measures.

The strongest benefit was seen in people with higher inflammatory markers, hinting that inflammation may help identify who could respond best.

The findings, reported in JAMA Psychiatry by University of Bristol researchers, suggest anti-inflammatory therapies could open a new path for treatment-resistant depression.