New study backs Roche's drug Actemra in arthritis

Wed Jun 6, 2007 2:59am EDT

(Adds background on other studies, rival drugs)

ZURICH, June 6 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche (ROG.VX) said on Wednesday new data from the second multinational Phase III Actemra study confirmed significant improvement of disease signs and symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The so-called TOWARD study successfully reached its primary endpoint, with a greater proportion of patients treated with Actemra in combination with older drugs showing reduced symptoms compared to the those on traditional treatments alone.

Data from the trial will be submitted for presentation at international scientific meetings later this year and in 2008.

TOWARD is the second of five Phase III clinical trials on Actemra, with two others due to report later this year. The first read out in January 2007 and also found Actemra met its primary endpoint.

Actemra is an important drug for Roche, which is hoping to establish itself as a major player in the treatment of arthritis.

It works in a different way to established drugs targeting tumour necrosis factor (TNF) such as Amgen Inc.'s (AMGN.O) Enbrel, Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) Remicade and Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s (ABT.N) Humira.

The product is also expected to be discussed in detail by arthritis experts at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona later this month.

(Additional reporting by Ben Hirschler in London)

((Reporting by Katie Reid;

Editing by Quentin Bryar

e-mail: katie.reid@reuters.com

Reuters Messaging:

katie.reid.reuters.com@reuters.net

telephone: +41 (0) 44 631 7320) Keywords: ROCHE ACTEMRA/

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