[Roche/Chugai, anti-IL-6R]
Roche's Actemra similar to other RA drugs in study
Mon May 14, 2007 7:42AM EDT
LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - Roche Holding AG's (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra showed similar efficacy to existing anti-TNF drugs in a Phase III clinical study, according to an abstract of results released on Monday.
A total of 58.5 percent of patients taking Actemra achieved a 20 percent improvement in their condition as measured by the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20 response) after 24 weeks of treatment.
Analysts at Deutsche Bank said the results were in line with the anti-TNF class, which was perhaps slightly disappointing given the markedly better ACR20 score seen an earlier 16-week Phase II trial, when 74 percent of patients achieved the goal.
Actemra works in a different way to established drugs targeting tumour necrosis factor (TNF), such as Amgen Inc.'s (AMGN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research Remicade and Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s (ABT.N: Quote, Profile, Research Humira.
Detailed results from the Phase III Actemra study will be presented at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona next month.
The abstract was published ahead of the meeting on the congress Web site
(http://abstract.mci-group.com/cgi-bin/mc/printabs.pl?APP=EULAR2007SCIE-abstract&TEMPLATE=&keyf=2166&showHide=show&client=)
((Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Paul Bolding; email: ben.hirschler@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: ben.hirschler.reuters.com@reuters.net; +44 20 7542 5082)) Keywords: ROCHE ACTEMRA/ |
