Roche’ Actemra To Inhibit Progression Of Structural Joint Damage In Rheumatoid Arthritis

Roche has announced one year data from the two year Phase III LITHE study. The study demonstrated that a greater proportion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with Actemra (tocilizumab), experienced a significant inhibition in the progression of structural joint damage, as compared to patients treated with methotrexate alone.

In one year of LITHE study, disease remission was demonstrated in 30% and 47% of patients treated with Actemra 4 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg, respectively, as compared to 8% of patients treated with placebo plus methotrexate.

The study also showed that patients treated with Actemra plus methotrexate, experienced a significant inhibition in the progression of structural joint damage, as compared to patients treated with methotrexate plus placebo.