Roche reveals ‘significant’ study results

Roche has revealed that the first rheumatoid arthritis multinational phase III study of Actemra outside of Japan has produced some “significant” results.

Data presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (Eular) conference in Barcelona, Spain, showed a significant improvement for signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis for patients who took Actemra in association with methotrexate.

In the group that received methotrexate along with Actemra in the 24-week study, four times the number of patients noted a 50 per cent improvement in symptoms, compared with the control group treated with methotrexate only.

“The efficacy of IL-6 receptor inhibition in this study confirms the critical role of IL-6 in the causal pathways of rheumatoid arthritis,” said lead investigator Professor Josef Smolen.

“On this basis, the profound clinical success observed with tocilizumab by targeting a novel pathway is extremely encouraging as is the opportunity for rheumatoid arthritis patients to benefit from a potential new treatment option.”

Some 22 per cent of the Actemra-treated patients saw 70 per cent improvement in disease signs, ten times better than the two per cent seen for just methotrexate.

Roche recently recalled all batches of Viracept powder and tablets, the protease inhibitor, in Europe and some other areas of the world due to the product containing higher than normal levels of methane sulfonic acid ethylester.