Chugai Gets Japanese Approval For Actemra For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical has received approval to market its Actemra (tocilizumab) antibody drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis in addition to its original indication for Castleman's disease. The approval is expected to be made official in April and the company expects to begin marketing it to the more than 700,000 people in Japan with rheumatoid arthritis. Chugai expects the drug to be a blockbuster, generating $44.5 million in sales in 2008. The firm also is teaming with Roche Holding to market the drug in Europe and North America. (Click here for more - a subscription may be required