Positive Phase III results of giant cell arteritis study

Findings of a Phase III study which evaluated Actemra (tocilizumab)in people with giant cell arteritis (GCA), a form of vasculitis that can lead to blindness, have been released.

The study, presented by Genentech, a subsidiary of Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX), met its primary and key secondary endpoint, demonstrating that Actemra – initially in combination with a six-month steroid (glucocorticoid) taper – enabled significantly more patients to achieve sustained disease remission while also significantly reducing steroid exposure compared with steroids alone.

Overall, 56% of patients treated with Actemra achieved steroid-free disease remission at one year, versus 14% with a six-month steroid-only taper regimen. The data were presented in an oral session on Sunday, November 13th at the 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and Association for Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) Annual Meeting in Washington DC.