Abbott drug ‘induces remissions’ in Crohn’s disease patients

Abbott has announced that recently published phase III clinical data has shown that Hamira (adalimumab) induces clinical remission in patients suffering from moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who had exhibited intolerance to inflixmab.

These results are being presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week in Berlin and American College of Gastroenterology in Las Vegas.

Humira is a fully human monoclonal antibody indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The compound operates through blocking tumour necrosis factor alpha.

The gauging adalimumab effectiveness in infliximab non-responders (Gain) study showed patients exhibiting three times the level of clinical remission in patients at week four, with clinical remission defined as a decrease in the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index to less than 150.

Eugene Sun, vice president of global pharmaceutical clinical development at Abbott, said: “The findings of the Gain study are significant, because they provide data showing that Humira induced clinical remission and response in this difficult-to-treat Crohn’s disease patient population.”

Humira is currently approved to reduce the symptoms, improve physical function and prevent joint damage in patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. It can be used as a monotherapy or in conjunction with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.