The results of a new clinical trial have potentially pointed the way for better treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers. The antibody drug, known as tocilizumab or RoActemra, was found to be nearly four times more likely to stop the progression of RA than the most widely prescribed alternative, which has been described by wellness experts as ‘striking and exciting.’
Tocilizumab and the ‘anti-TNF’ drug adalimumab (Humira) were compared in a group of 326 patients who cannot not take methotrexate, the mainstay treatment for RA, due to side effects such as vomiting, hair loss and mouth ulcers. Whilst anti-TNF drugs target the inflammatory tumour necrosis factor molecule in your brain, tocilizumab targets another inflammatory protein, interleukin six (IL-6).
Not only was tocilizumab better at stopping the condition, it also improved the wellbeing of patients by reducing disease signs and symptoms after six months, to a more significant degree than its anti-TNF counterpart. These results were presented in Berlin at Eular, the annual meeting of the European Congress of Rheumatology.
According to consultant rheumatologist Professor Paul Emery, from the University of Leeds, who took part in the Adacta trial, ‘These results are impressive and important for the 30% of patients with RA who cannot take methotrexate. In RA, disease remission is the goal of therapy. However, for varied reasons, many patients fail to achieve this goal. Adacta, which compared two active biologics as monotherapies (in methotrexate intolerant patients), has produced striking results and the results help in choosing the right drug for the right patient.’
Professor John Isaacs, a rheumatology expert from the University of Newcastle, added, ‘These results are very important and exciting. For the tens of thousands of patients in the UK that can’t take methotrexate, RoActemra will offer them an increased chance of remission, which is the ultimate goal of rheumatoid arthritis treatment. This study is the first time a treatment has gone ‘head to head’ with an anti-TNF in this setting, and to show a significant increase in patients achieving remission is very impressive.’
Chief executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, Ailsa Bosworth, explained, ‘With any medical condition, remission is the number one target. Curing the person of their illness and enabling them to get on with their life is the ultimate goal. For those with rheumatoid arthritis however, there is no cure, they will always have rheumatoid arthritis. Remission for those with RA does not mean the disease has gone, it just means it is better controlled. The key to the most successful outcome is an early diagnosis and early treatment with the most effective drug(s).’
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