Bristol-Myers Squibb reports positive data from Orencia arthritis trial

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced data from a phase IIIb clinical study showing the efficacy of its drug Orencia in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Results from the Avert trial have revealed that the T-cell co-stimulation modulator therapy, when used in combination with methotrexate, achieved significantly higher rates of remission at 12 months than treatment with the current standard of care.

Meanwhile, a higher number of patients who received Orencia were also able to achieve maintenance of remission following the withdrawal of all drug therapy, thus meeting the trial's co-primary endpoint.

Remission of both clinical symptoms and radiographic joint damage is an important and achievable goal in the management of this inflammatory disease.

Michael Giordano, senior vice-president and head of development for oncology and immunology at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said this data "supports the use of Orencia as a first-line biologic therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis."

The drug is available for use in the UK and has been shown in previous studies to deliver comparable efficacy to AbbVie's Humira.