For treating rheumatoid arthritis in patients a new type of drug was approved on Friday by the Food and Drug Administration Friday. The drug approved is by Roche Holding AG's Genentech unit.

It took almost a year for the approval to come. The FDA had asked for additional data on the drug, Actemra from the company.

For patients who have not had a proper response to Remicade or Humira, Actemra was approved. It is recommended for people with moderate-to-severe disease.

In rheumatoid arthritis small joints in people's hands and feet are affected and it is an autoimmune disorder.

Interleukin-6, a substance which is generated by the body and it is involved in inflammatory responses is blocked by Actemra.

Dr Mark Genovese, the co-chief Stanford University's Immunology and Rheumatology division, explained, “The drug was tested in five studies involving more than 4,000 patients. Broadly, the studies showed that Actemra used alone, or in combination with methotrexate, a commonly used drug, reduced the signs and symptoms of the disease compared to so-called disease-modifying drugs like methotrexate alone.”

Other biologic drugs were however not compared to Actemra.

Roche controls Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., that developed Actemra. Roche’s declined from revealing the sale of Actemra.