Advertisement Genentech Actemra drug shows superiority over adalimumab - Pharmaceutical Business review
Pharmaceutical Business review is using cookies

ContinueLearn More
Close

Genentech Actemra drug shows superiority over adalimumab

Genentech's Actemra (tocilizumab) has showed improvement in the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) when compared to adalimumab monotherapy.

Actemra is the first humanized IL-6 receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active RA and for the treatment of active Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA).

The Phase IV multi-center randomized double blinded parallel group ADalimumab ACTemrA (ADACTA) study will compare the reduction in signs and symptoms during monotherapy treatment with Actemra versus adalimumab in adult patients with moderately to severely active RA.

In the study, 326 patients were randomized (1:1) to receive Actemra 8 mg/kg intravenously (IV) every four weeks or adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously (SC) every two weeks for 24 weeks.

Following 24 weeks, the data showed that patients who received Actemra as monotherapy achieved a significant reduction in disease activity than those given adalimumab monotherapy.

The trial’s primary endpoint included the mean change from baseline in the DAS28 score and the secondary endpoints were DAS28 remission and low disease activity, ACR20, 50 and 702.

Genentech Global Product Development chief medical officer and head Hal Barron said the study data add to the growing body of evidence supporting the benefit of Actemra alone when methotrexate is not appropriate.

In US, the initial approved dose of Actemra is 4 mg/kg, and is increased to 8 mg/kg based upon the patient’s response to treatment.