Roche announces positive phase III Actemra results

Roche has announced the results of the Toward phase III clinical study of Actemra (tocilizumab) in rheumatoid arthritis patients, which met its primary endpoint.

The study showed that compared to patients only receiving standard disease modifying drugs, a greater number of patients administered with Actemra in conjunction with these medications exhibited a significant improvement in their symptoms at week 24 of the study.

Actemra is a humanised interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibiting monoclonal antibody using this innovative mechanism to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The compound is currently being assessed in phase III clinical trials by Roche and Chugai.

The Toward trial is the second of five phase III trials currently being undertaken to investigate the safety and efficacy of Actemra, with the results of the first, the Option study, meeting its primary endpoint in January 2007.

William Burns, chief executive officer of Roche Pharmaceuticals, said: “The Toward trial data further documents the efficacy and safety of Actemra and the value of its IL-6 receptor inhibition.”

He added that the company was anticipating further results from its international research and development programme for the compound.

In May 2007, Chugai announced that it would not exercise its right to co-promote Actemra in the US, Italy or Spain, though it would do so in the UK, France and Germany.