Results from Lithe trial showed that a greater proportion of patients treated with Actemra in combination with a commonly used rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug called methotrexate (MTX) benefited from a significant inhibition of structural damage during 12 months of therapy, compared to patients treated with MTX alone. This is critical to patients because damage in the joints caused by the disease leads to the disability and pain associated with RA. Additionally, Actemra improved the patients’ ability to perform normal daily activities, as assessed by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores.
In the Lithe study, Actemra was generally well tolerated and the overall safety profile after 12 months of treatment was consistent with previously reported six month trial data. The Lithe study is the fifth global Phase III trial on Actemra to successfully meet its primary endpoints in patients with moderate to severe RA.