Patent ID: 8420089

Claim:
A method of improving survivability or quality of life of a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient an IL-6 antagonist, whereby (i) the patient's serum C-reactive protein (“CRP”) level is reduced, and/or (ii) the patient's serum albumin level is increased, and further wherein the IL-6 antagonist comprises an anti-IL-6 antibody or antibody fragment which competes for binding to an intact human IL-6 polypeptide with an anti-IL-6 antibody comprising the VL and VH sequences in SEQ ID NO:2 and 3 respectively, and wherein the administration of said antibody or antibody fragment improves the survivability or quality of life of a patient in need thereof by reducing the patient's serum C-reactive protein (“CRP”) level and/or increasing the patient's serum albumin level.