The Hindu Business Line : Roche launches drug for rheumatoid arthritis

Mabthera has been available in India for the last five years for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It has now been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Mabthera has already received approval in the US and the European Union, Dr G.L. Telang, Managing Director of Roche Scientific, told newspersons on Monday.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common forms of autoimmune disease.

In India alone, there are more than seven million patients suffering from this disease. The exact cause is unknown and as yet there is no cure.

"This medicine prevents further joint destruction," said Dr Telang.

Mabthera is to be taken in two doses with a 15-day gap. The drug is priced at Rs 3.5 lakh for two doses.

"It is a very definitive cost as only two doses are needed. With other medicines, you have to keep taking them indefinitely," said Dr Telang.

Studies are being conducted at four centres to test this product for first line treatment.

Some 50 patients will be recruited in the next one-and-a-half years. Vellore, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Chennai are the cities in which these studies will take place.

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Roche launches drug for rheumatoid arthritis