Abbott reports positive three-year data from Humira UC study

Abbott has announced results from an analysis of three-year data that demonstrates the long-term benefits Humira can provide to ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

Results from the ongoing open-label extension of the Ultra 1 and Ultra 2 studies showed that Abbott's drug was able to deliver symptomatic improvements over three years, as well as a 55.3 percent remission rate.

UC is an inflammatory bowel disease marked by ulcers in the colon that can lead to life-threatening complications, with around a quarter of sufferers eventually needing to have their colons removed.

Dr John Medich, vice-president for clinical development at Abbott's immunology division, said: "Abbott is committed to further investigate the long-term use, efficacy and safety of Humira in these patients."

These results follow on from recent regulatory approval of Humira as a treatment for UC in the US and Europe.

Moreover, the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use last week recommended the drug as a therapy for paediatric patients aged six to 17 years with severely active Crohn's disease.