After positive research results were presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting earlier this month, Roche announced this week that it has filed for FDA approval of a biologics license application for its drug tocilizumab (marketed as Actemra) for the treatment of sign...
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Untitled Comment
Kierae
Friday, December 19, 2008 at 08:40 PM
I am involved with this study. I have been receiving this medication for almost 2 years. Back history: I was diagnosed with JRA at 2 years old. Remission from 6 till I was 26. Since that point I have tried most medication combinations. I have been medication resistant. Research has been my only option for the last several years. With this drug, I have a life again. I can exercise. I can tie my own shoes. Pain isn't the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning. My only fear is when it does get FDA approval that it will be exorbitantly priced out of my budget. Like most folks, I have insurance because I am disabled. But of course when you look at your portion of the bill and it is still the price of a house payment (or rental in my case), it becomes an issue. I can only hope that Roche has a program to assist those of us who don't have prescriptive programs that pay well to still get the med. Otherwise I am back to the drawing board and on to another research drug and praying for no major slide back into inflammation and joint destruction.
I am involved with this study. I have been receiving this medication for almost 2 years. Back history: I was diagnosed with JRA at 2 years old. Remission from 6 till I was 26. Since that point I have tried most medication combinations. I have been medication resistant. Research has been my only option for the last several years. With this drug, I have a life again. I can exercise. I can tie my own shoes. Pain isn't the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning. My only fear is when it does get FDA approval that it will be exorbitantly priced out of my budget. Like most folks, I have insurance because I am disabled. But of course when you look at your portion of the bill and it is still the price of a house payment (or rental in my case), it becomes an issue. I can only hope that Roche has a program to assist those of us who don't have prescriptive programs that pay well to still get the med. Otherwise I am back to the drawing board and on to another research drug and praying for no major slide back into inflammation and joint destruction.