Roche's Tocilizumab Injection Wins FDA Approval For Lung Disease

The FDA has approved Roche Holdings AG's (OTCQX: RHHBY) Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) for slowing the rate of decline in pulmonary function in adult patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).
Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, is an autoimmune disease causing tissues of the skin and lungs to thicken and harden.
This subcutaneous injection is the sixth FDA-approved indication for Actemra/RoActemra since its launch in the U.S. in 2010.
The company says that the treatment is the first biologic therapy approved by the FDA to treat the disease.
Last month, Oxford researchers Actemra (tocilizumab) cuts the risk of death among patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19, shortens the time to recovery and reduces the need for mechanical ventilation.
Price Action: RHHBY shares are up 0.4% at $40.5 in premarket trading on the last check Friday.