Genentech, Inc.Media Contact:Joe St. Martin, 650-467-6800Investor Contacts:Thomas Kudsk Larsen, 650-467-2016Karl Mahler, 011 41 61 687 85 03
Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved indication for ACTEMRA(tocilizumab) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). ACTEMRA can be used both alone as a single-agent therapy and in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or other DMARDs. The expanded indication further supports the safety and efficacy profile of ACTEMRA.
"People with moderately to severely active RA can suffer irreversible joint damage that may be prevented by earlier treatment with a biologic medicine such as ACTEMRA," said Hal Barron, M.D., chief medical officer and head, Global Product Development. “We’re pleased that these patients will now have ACTEMRA as an additional option.”
The expanded indication is based on efficacy and safety data from the Phase III clinical trials which were previously available, safety data collected from the post-marketing experience with ACTEMRA since approval in 2010, as well as data from other clinical studies, including those evaluating ACTEMRA in a real-world setting.
ACR improvement criteria is a standard assessment developed by the American College of Rheumatology to measure the signs and symptoms of RA. ACR20, ACR50, ACR70 represent the percentage of reduction (20 percent, 50 percent, 70 percent) in certain RA signs and symptoms, such as the number of tender and swollen joints, pain, patients’ and physicians’ global assessments and certain laboratory markers. The Genant-modified Sharp score focuses on 14 specific sites for evidence of bone erosion and 13 sites for narrowing of the joint space, both key measures of ongoing structural damage to the joints. A high score or an increase in the score over time represents a greater extent of damage.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease estimated to affect up to 70 million people worldwide, including children. Joints become chronically inflamed, painful and swollen, and patients can become increasingly disabled as cartilage and bone is damaged.
ACTEMRA is the first humanized IL-6 receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active RA who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The extensive ACTEMRA clinical development program included five Phase III clinical studies and enrolled more than 4,000 people with RA in 41 countries, including the United States. In addition, ACTEMRA is also approved for the treatment of active Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) in patients two years of age and older.
Other serious side effects of ACTEMRA include tears (perforation) of the stomach and intestines, changes in blood test results, hepatitis B infection becoming an active infection again, and nervous system problems.
Serious allergic reactions, including death, can happen with ACTEMRA. These reactions may happen with any infusion of ACTEMRA even if they did not occur with an earlier infusion. Patients must tell their doctor if they have had a previous reaction to ACTEMRA. Patients should not take ACTEMRA if they are allergic to it or any of its ingredients.
Common side effects with ACTEMRA in rheumatoid arthritis include upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, sinus infections), headache, and increased blood pressure (hypertension).
Common side effects with ACTEMRA in SJIA include upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, sinus infections), headache, and diarrhea.
Patients must tell their healthcare providers if they plan to become pregnant or are pregnant. It is not known if ACTEMRA will harm an unborn baby. Genentech has a registry for pregnant women who take ACTEMRA. Patients who are pregnant or become pregnant while taking ACTEMRA must contact the registry at 1-877-311-8972 and talk to their healthcare provider.
ACTEMRA is part of a co-development agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. and has been approved in Japan since June 2005. ACTEMRA is approved in the European Union, where it is known as RoACTEMRA, and several other countries, including India, Brazil, Switzerland, and Australia.
Founded more than 30 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit .