Abbott: Phase 3 data show Humira offers sustained reduction in symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, June 23 - Abbott announced Friday new results of two analyses from a major phase 3 study of Humira in ankylosing spondylitis, showing sustained reduction in symptoms.

The first analysis demonstrates the ability of Humira to maintain the reduction of signs and symptoms in ankylosing spondylitis patients at 12 weeks through 52 weeks of treatment, according to a company news release.

A second analysis demonstrates that Humira rapidly and significantly reduced pain and fatigue in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease of the spine and spinal joints, as early as two weeks compared with a placebo and that the improvement was maintained for at least 24 weeks, officials said.

The data from the study, presented Friday at the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, follow the recent approval by the European Commission of Humira as a treatment for severe, active ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis is the third of six autoimmune diseases targeted for Humira therapy, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Abbott's application for Humira for ankylosing spondylitis in the United States is under review, the company said.

Nearly 3 million people in Europe are affected by a spinal arthritic disease, such as ankylosing spondylitis, officials said.

Abbott, based in Abbott Park, Ill., is a health care company.

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