Study shows RoActemra/Actemra (Genetech/Roche) superior to Humira in achieving remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients

New data confirms RoActemra/Actemra (tocilizumab), from Genetech/Roche, is superior to Humira (adalimumab) in achieving disease remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients when either is used without methotrexate (MTX). Data shows that over 50% of RA patients can achieve low disease activity or remission with RoActemra/Actemra, compared to under 20% of those treated with the most widely prescribed anti-TNF Humira when neither drug is combined with methotrexate (51.5% vs. 19.8%). The study also showed almost four times as many patients achieving disease remission with RoActemra/Actemra alone, compared to Humira alone (39.9% vs. 10.5%) and almost twice as many patients achieve a 70% improvement in the signs and symptoms of their disease (32.5% vs. 17.9%).

The study findings offer hope to RA patients that RoActemra/Actemra without methotrexate is an efficacious treatment which can provide tight disease control to those who cannot tolerate methotrexate. Results were published in The Lancet. See: "Tocilizumab monotherapy versus adalimumab monotherapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (ADACTA): results from a randomised, double-blind, controlled phase 4 trial." Gabay C et al. The Lancet 2013; 381