PBS RA remedy
July 21, 2010
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THE start of next month will see
the PBS listing of Actemra
(tocilizumab), which is the first
biologic treatment for rheumatoid
arthritis to be clinically superior to
methotrexate as monotherapy.
The listing is for adults with
severe, active RA who have failed
treatment with disease-modifying
anti-rheumatic drugs.
“Currently, many people with
severe rheumatoid arthritis fail to
respond to existing treatments and
Actemra provides another good
option for people living with this
incurable disease,” said
rheumatologist at Royal Prince
Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Associate
Professor Peter Youssef.
“In particular, Actemra offers a
treatment alternative to people who
cannot tolerate or are sensitive to
MTX, due to Actemra’s proven
efficacy as a monotherapy agent,”
Youssef added.
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