Patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with ACTEMRA™ (tocilizumab) experienced a rapid and significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of their disease, according to a study published in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Results from the OPTION (TOcilizumab Pivotal Trial in Methotrexate Inadequate respONders) trial
a major Phase III international study - demonstrated that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients not only achieved greater improvement of symptoms but also a higher quality-of-life with ACTEMRA, an innovative interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitor, compared with methotrexate, a commonly used RA treatment.
"Results of this pivotal study convincingly demonstrate that tocilizumab can effectively and rapidly diminish the painful and debilitating effects of rheumatoid arthritis," said Josef Smolen, M.D., lead investigator of the OPTION trial and Professor of Medicine at the Department of Internal Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. "These trial findings are significant because we know that many rheumatoid arthritis patients continue to experience symptoms of joint pain and stiffness, physical disability and fatigue despite treatment with existing therapies."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/101123.php
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