FDA Approval for AbbVie’s arthritis treatment

AbbVie had received FDA approval in the US for arthritis treatment upadacitinib.
The oral JAK inhibitor met all primary and secondary end points in its phase 3 SELECT programme. It will be available in the US towards the end of August 2019 as an alternative treatment for patients that have an intolerance or inadequate response to the standard treatment, methotrexate.
The programmes evaluated approximately 4,400 patients in five studies, and AbbVie were able to report that patients taking upadacitinib achieved clinical remission with almost no disease activity or symptoms. It also showed an improved outcome in patients compared to Humira, AbbVie’s anti-TNF drug which is approved in the same indication.
Upadacitinib wil be taking on Pfizer’s Xeljanz and Eli Lilly’s Olumiant within the market space.