<AsiaNet> Actemra: Roche's Novel Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Shows Substantial

Benefits for Patients in OPTION Study

(BASEL, June 15 AsiaNet= 연합뉴스)

New Data Supports IL-6 Receptor Inhibition as a Key Component in

Controlling Inflammation From RA

Roche today announced significant results from 'OPTION'(1), the first

rheumatoid arthritis multinational phase III study of Actemra (tocilizumab)

outside of Japan. The data presented at the EULAR(2) meeting in Barcelona,

Spain, showed that patients who received Actemra in combination with

methotrexate achieved rapid and significant improvement in their signs and

symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis when compared to patients receiving

methotrexate alone.

In the 24-week study, four times the number of patients in the Actemra

group experienced 50% improvement in disease symptoms (ACR50(3) response)

compared to the control group (44% vs 11%). More than ten times the number of

Actemra patients achieved 70% improvement in disease signs and symptoms (ACR70

response) compared to the control group (22.0% vs 2.0%). In addition, 28% of

patients achieved the ultimate goal of remission(4) in the Actemra group vs

only 1% of patients in the control group.

"The efficacy of IL-6 receptor inhibition in this study confirms the

critical role of IL-6 in the causal pathways of rheumatoid arthritis. On this

basis, the profound clinical success observed with tocilizumab by targeting a

novel pathway is extremely encouraging as is the opportunity for rheumatoid

arthritis patients to benefit from a potential new treatment option," commented

lead investigator, Professor Josef Smolen.

"The detailed data from the OPTION study, together with the first data from

the TOWARD study announced last week, show a great benefit for rheumatoid

arthritis patients. We look forward to further results from our extensive

multinational Phase III development programme later this year" commented

William Burns, CEO Division Roche Pharmaceuticals.

Other parameters measured included C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of

inflammation, fatigue and haemoglobin. Patients in the 8mg/kg Actemra group

showed a rapid normalisation of the CRP levels within 2 weeks while fatigue

scores showed that patients in the Actemra group experienced a reduction in

fatigue and a rapid improvement in haemoglobin levels. Low levels of

haemoglobin are usually associated with anaemia which makes patients feel tired

and lacking in energy.

About the OPTION study

The OPTION (TOcilizumab Pivotal Trial in Methotrexate Inadequate

respONders) study was an international study involving 623 patients with

moderate to severe RA. In this 3-arm, randomized, double-blind study, patients

received tocilizumab intravenously (either 4mg/kg or 8mg/kg) every 4 weeks plus

methotrexate weekly or placebo infusions plus methotrexate weekly over a period

of 6 months.

Although higher efficacy was established at the higher dose (ACR20, 50 and

70 scores of 59%, 44% and 22% respectively in the 8mg/kg Actemra group),

patients treated with the lower dose of Actemra (4mg/kg) achieved ACR20, 50 and

70 scores of 48%, 32% and 12% respectively. Furthermore there was a reduction

in the Disease Activity Score (DAS) from week 2 onwards for both the 8mg/kg

(-3.43) and 4mg/kg (-2.68) Actemra groups compared to control (-1.55).

Remission of disease was demonstrated in 28% of patients treated with 8mg/kg of

Actemra and methotrexate vs 14% of patients treated with 4mg/kg of Actemra and

methotrexate vs 1% or patients receiving methotrexate alone.

Actemra was generally well tolerated with an adverse event (AE) profile

consistent with data reported in previous studies(5).

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Actemra

Actemra is the first humanised interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibiting

monoclonal antibody and represents a novel mechanism of action to treat RA, a

disease with a high unmet medical need. Roche and Chugai are collaborating on a

phase III clinical development programme in RA running outside Japan, with more

than 4000 patients enrolled in 41 countries including several European

countries and the USA. In Japan, Actemra was launched in June 2005 as a therapy

for Castleman's disease and in April 2006 filed for the additional indications

of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

About rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive, systemic autoimmune disease

characterized by chronic inflammation of multiple joints and fatigue as well as

the possibility of osteoporosis, anaemia, and lung, skin and liver effects.

This inflammation causes pain, stiffness and swelling, resulting in loss of

joint function due to destruction of the bone and cartilage, often leading to

progressive disability. Further, as chronic inflammation continues, there may

be shortening of life expectancy as a result of effects on major organ systems.

After 10 years, less than 50% of patients can continue to work or function

normally on a day to day basis. RA affects more than 21 million people

worldwide.

About Roche in rheumatoid arthritis

One of the most important drivers for growth at Roche over the next few

years is expected to be the company's emerging franchise in autoimmune diseases

with rheumatoid arthritis as the first indication. Following the launch of

MabThera(R) (rituximab) there are a number of projects in development,

potentially allowing Roche to build on further opportunities. MabThera is the

first and only selective B-cell therapy for RA, providing a fundamentally

different treatment approach by targeting B cells, one of the key players in

the pathogenesis of RA. Actemra is Roche's second novel medicine and is a

humanised monoclonal antibody to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, inhibiting

the activity of IL-6 , a protein that plays a major role in the RA inflammation

process. Actemra is the result of research collaboration by Chugai and is being

co-developed globally with Chugai. Additional projects creating a rich pipeline

include compounds in Phase I, II and III clinical trials. Notably, ocrelizumab,

a fully humanised anti-CD20 antibody, is just entering phase III development

for RA.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading

research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and

diagnostics. As the world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of

products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and

treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to

improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in

in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, a market leader

in virology and active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune

diseases, inflammation, metabolism and central nervous system. In 2006 sales by

the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 33.3 billion Swiss francs, and the

Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs

approximately 75,000 worldwide and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances

with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and

Chugai. Additional information about the Roche Group is available on the

Internet at www.roche.com

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

Further information:

- Roche & Autoimmune diseases: www.roche.com/med_events_mb1106

Roche Group Media Office:

Phone: +41-61-688-8888 / e-mail: basel.mediaoffice@roche.com

- Daniel Piller (Head of Roche Group Media Office)

- Katja Prowald (Head of Science Communications)

- Martina Rupp

- Baschi Durr

- Claudia Schmitt

On site contacts:

Roche

Jennifer Wilson

International Communications Manager

Tel: +41-79-619-1765

Cohn & Wolfe

Jeremy Clark : Tel: +44-7834308958

Nicole Moores (UK): Tel : +44-207-331-5337

References:

(1) OPTION refers to the tOcilizumab Pivotal Trial in methotrexate

Inadequate respONders

(2) European League Against Rheumatism

(3) The ACR response is a standard assessment used to measure patients'

responses to anti-rheumatic therapies, devised by the American College

of Rheumatology (ACR). It requires a patient to have a defined

percentage reduction in a number of symptoms and measures of their

disease. For example, a 20%, 50% or 70% level of reduction (the

percentage of reduction of RA symptoms) is represented as ACR20, ACR50

or ACR70. An ACR70 response is exceptional for existing treatments and

represents a significant improvement in a patient's condition.

(4) Disease activity is measured by a Disease Activity Score (DAS), where

low disease activity is defined as DAS 28 less than or equal to 3.2

and remission is defined as DAS 28 less than or equal to 2.6

(5) Maini RN, Taylor PC, Szechinski J et al., on behalf of the CHARISMA

Study Group. Double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial of the

interleukin-6 receptor antagonist, tocilizumab, in European patients

with rheumatoid arthritis who had an incomplete response to

methotrexate. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Sep;54(9):2817-29.

SOURCE: Roche

CONTACT: Jennifer Wilson,

International Communications Manager of Roche,

+41-79-619-1765;

Daniel Piller (Head of Roche Group Media Office),

Katja Prowald (Head of Science Communications),

Martina Rupp,

Baschi Durr,

Claudia Schmitt,

+41-61-688-8888,

basel.mediaoffice@roche.com,

all of Roche Group Media Office; or

Jeremy Clark,

+44-7834308958, or

Nicole Moores (UK),

+44-207-331-5337,

both of Cohn & Wolfe

Web sites: http://www.roche.com

http://www.roche.com/med_events_mb1106

anet1@yna.co.kr

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