Roche study data shows further benefits of RoActemra

Roche has published clinical trial data which demonstrates the possible benefits of RoActemra as a monotherapy treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Data from the phase IIIb Act-Ray study has shown that RoActemra, when administered alone, can offer comparable safety and efficacy to a combination of the drug plus methotrexate.

Patients suffering from RA are frequently prescribed with methotrexate, but around 40 percent of users do not experience an adequate response, while a number of side effects are also associated with the therapy.

RoActemra is also the first biologic compound to demonstrate superiority to methotrexate when administered alone.

Dr Hal Barron, head of global development and chief medical officer for Roche, said: "The findings of the Act-Ray study provide further evidence of the meaningful benefits of RoActemra monotherapy."

Earlier this week, the company won a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for RoActemra to be approved as a systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis treatment.