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news.Roche said that its rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra plus methotrexate achieved a significant improvement in the disease compared to patients treated with placebo and methotrexate, a current standard of care, in a phase III study.
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In the 623-patient study, 58.5% of patients receiving the combination of Actemra (8mg/kg) and methotrexate achieved at least a 20% improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms compared with 26.5% of patients receiving placebo plus methotrexate after 24 weeks.
The data also showed that 79.5% of patients in the Actemra (8mg/kg) plus methotrexate group responded with moderate to good improvements in RA symptoms compared to 34.8% for those treated with placebo and methotrexate at 24 weeks. Actemra was generally well-tolerated, Roche added.
“These study results underscore the potential for Actemra to become a new treatment option for RA,” said Lars Birgerson, vice president of Global Head Medical Affairs for Roche. “We are hopeful that the ongoing phase III trials will translate into improved clinical outcomes for patients.”