ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab) Significantly Reduces Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs And Symptoms Regardless Of Previous Therapy In Two New Global Studies

Patients who suffer the chronic and
debilitating effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) -- despite treatment with
current therapies -- achieved significant improvements in signs and
symptoms when treated with Roche's ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab) alone or in
combination with methotrexate compared with methotrexate alone, according
to two international Phase III studies presented by researchers at the
European Congress of Rheumatology (ECR) held by the European League Against
Rheumatism (EULAR) in Paris.



Data from two new Phase III studies -- RADIATE and AMBITION trials --
will be highlighted as oral presentations at the congress, along with 21
additional abstracts involving ACTEMRA, a novel interleukin-6 (IL-6)
receptor inhibitor being studied for the treatment of moderate to severe
RA. Importantly, findings from the RADIATE study were also published online
this week in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.



In the RADIATE study, which evaluated difficult-to-treat patients who
failed to respond to prior anti-TNF therapies, 50 percent of
ACTEMRA-treated patients achieved a 20 percent (ACR20(1)) reduction in
signs and symptoms. The AMBITION study showed that significantly more
patients receiving ACTEMRA achieved a 20 percent improvement in their signs
and symptoms [ACR20: 70%]. No previous biologic therapy has demonstrated
statistically significant superiority compared to methotrexate in this
important clinical parameter at week 24. In addition, nearly one-third of
all ACTEMRA patients from both studies reached disease remission (as
defined by DAS28








In the AMBITION study, 70 percent, 44 percent and 28 percent of
patients in the ACTEMRA (8 mg/kg) arm achieved ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70
compared, respectively, with 53 percent, 34 percent and 15 percent,
respectively, of patients treated with methotrexate alone. Disease
remission (DAS28