Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan) Announces Japanese Phase III Trial Data Demonstrates Efficacy Of Actemra(R), A Humanized Anti-Human IL-6 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody, On Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 26, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4519) and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (hereinafter "Roche") announced today that the humanized anti-human IL-6 (interleukin-6) receptor monoclonal antibody, Actemra(R) (generic name: tocilizumab (genetical recombination) injection), globally co-developed by Chugai and Roche, has shown efficacy as a monotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients in a double-blinded phase III trial conducted in Japan. The results were presented today at The Japan College of Rheumatology (JCR) Annual Scientific Meeting held in Nagasaki, Japan.