Genentech to manufacture tocilizumab under contract

Genentechhas entered an agreement to manufacture bulk supplies of the anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody Actemra (tocilizumab) forChugai, its sister company under the Roche umbrella. Chugai will continue to manufacture bulk quantities and formulate the product at a facility in Japan, which was originally expected to be able to meet global demand. Rather than invest in additional domestic capacity, a decision has taken to outsource production to Genentech's Vacaville site in California, Chugai said. Actemra is already marketed in Japan for arthritis and Castleman's disease and has just been recommended for approval in the US for rheumatoid arthritis.