CHERISH trial of RoActemra/Actemra (Genetech/Roche) shows sustained benefits for polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

New data shows that RoActemra/Actemra (tocilizumab), from Genentech/Roche, is efficacious and leads to a sustained clinically meaningful improvement in children with polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (pJIA). CHERISH, a two-year, 3-part trial, enrolled patients aged 2-17 years who had active pJIA for at least 6 months and had failed to respond to methotrexate. Results show that fewer patients in the tocilizumab group than in the placebo group experienced a flare by week 40 (25.6% vs. 48.1%) and JIA ACR30/50/70 responses were significantly higher with tocilizumab than placebo, with as many as 65% of the children attaining an ACR70 response.

Tocilizumab's safety profile was consistent with that found in other tocilizumab-treated patients. Data was presented by Dr. Fabrizio De Benedetti of the IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu, Rome, at EULAR 2013. RoActemra was approved in the EU for pJIA in June 2013.