Roche receives Scottish approval for subcutaneous RoActemra

Roche has announced that a convenient new subcutaneous formulation of its rheumatoid arthritis drug RoActemra has been approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

The new therapy option has been accepted for use on the NHS in Scotland, giving patients greater choice over whether they receive their treatments either at home or in a hospital setting.

RoActemra becomes the first anti IL-6 receptor inhibitor to be approved by the SMC in subcutaneous and intravenous formulations, for use both with and without methotrexate.

The new approval was based on positive data from the phase III SUMMACTA and BREVACTA trials, which demonstrated the safety and efficacy benefits of the new therapy compared to placebo, as well as its parity with the intravenous version.

Ernest Choy, professor of rheumatology at Cardiff Institute of Infection and Immunity, said: "Today's positive decision brings a valuable option in the management of this chronic condition for people with rheumatoid arthritis in Scotland, of which patient choice is extremely significant."

This comes after the company's oncology therapy Avastin was approved in Europe for the treatment of platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer last week.