Genentech Receives FDA Approval for Actemra

The FDA has approved Genentech's Actemra as a treatment for active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Genentech's Actemra (tocilizumab), a treatment for active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The approval was based on positive results from the randomised and double-blind, Phase III TENDER study, which proved that Actemra improved the signs and symptoms of the condition.

The drug is a humanised IL-6 receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody approved to treat adult patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis, which can be given alone or in combination with methotrexate in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Patients treated with the drug may experience adverse