ROCHE PRESENTS DATA ON ACTEMRA IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Roche has presented the results from two Phase III studies and one Phase II study that showed treatment with the investigational agent tocilizumab -- marketed as Actemra in Japan for Castleman's disease -- consistently improved remission rates in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with placebo or other conventional antirheumatic treatments including the current standard of care, methotrexate.

In a one-year, 302-patient study, approximately 40 percent of the patients in the Actemra group experienced a 70 percent improvement in certain symptoms and lab parameters, including an American College of Rheumatology score of 70, at 52 weeks. Approximately 59 percent of patients achieved disease activity remission. In two other studies, a 70 percent improvement in symptoms was achieved in 28 percent of patients after 24 weeks, and in 16 percent of patients after 12 weeks. The studies were part of a large RA clinical development program in Japan, involving nearly 600 patients, to evaluate the safety, efficacy and consistent response of Actemra.

Actemra is the first humanized interleukin-6 receptor-blocking monoclonal antibody to be studied as a potential treatment for RA. Studies suggest that reducing the activity of IL-6, one of several key cytokines involved in the inflammatory process, may reduce inflammation of the joints, prevent long-term damage and relieve certain systemic effects of RA such as anemia, fatigue and osteoporosis.