Roche have filed licence applications in both the United States and in Europe for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with their innovative arthritis treatment drug, Actemra (tocilizumab).

Actemra is already available in Japan for patients with the rare auto immume disease known as Castleman’s disease and after sucessfull clinical trials there now been approved in Japan for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and for both juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis which affect kids.

Actemra is the first of a new class of drug with a novel mechanism which brings new hope to rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Actemra works by suppressing the activity of IL-6, an  trigger of the inflammatory process and so reduces inflammation of the affected joints and relieves the effects of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive autoimmune disease. The inflammation causes swelling of the joints and reduced functionality plus stiffness and swelling and significant pain from inflammation of the membrane lining in the joints. The condition eventually leads to irreversible disability from joint break down. Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include osteoporosis, anaemia, shortened life expectancy and fatigue. Statistically at least 50% of effected patients can no longer work or function properly after 10 years of the condition.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a severe disease associated with symptoms in joints occurring in kids. Those affected have many similarities to rheumatoid arthritis as well as fever.

For more information about Actemra contact Roche