Roche has reported that up to 56% of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with ACTEMRA for over two years, will achieve disease remission. The new data was presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) congress.
ACTEMRA is the result of research collaboration by Chugai and is being co-developed globally with Chugai. ACTEMRA is the first humanized interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody. An extensive clinical development program of five Phase III trials was designed to evaluate clinical findings of ACTEMRA, all of which met their primary endpoints.
ACTEMRA was first approved in Japan, and launched by Chugai in June 2005 as a therapy for Castleman’s disease.
Professor Josef Smolen, University of Vienna, said: “Consistently high levels of remission such as these are really significant for both doctors and patients – firstly, in demonstrating that very low disease activity and remission is possible in large numbers and in all types of patients, and secondly, by confirming that tocilizumab offers us an effective long-term treatment which can make a dramatic difference to a patient’s life.”