Limited availability of RoActemra (Roche): new situation update
December 23, 2021
The availability of RoActemra (tocilizumab), a drug used for certain rheumatological and hematological disorders, can still not be fully guaranteed. Currently, there is a stock for both the intravenous and subcutaneous form of administration, taking into account the previously approved indications, i.e. exclusive use in COVID-19 patients. At present, Roche has only confirmed a limited number of deliveries for early January 2022.
Source: FAMHP
On 6 December 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published recommendations(link is external) to add treatment of severe COVID-19 in adults to the approved indications for the intravenous administration form of RoActemra. This recommendation was forwarded to the European Commission, which approved it.
Effective use for COVID-19 could mean faster depletion of the stockpile. The FAMHP therefore continues to emphasise the importance of the rational use of stocks. The attending physician's decision should be based on the assessed risk to the individual patient and the expected efficacy and side effects of the treatment.