Days after fifth, Rivoq clocks up sixth EC approval

AbbVie (NYSE: ABVV) has announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Rinvoq (upadacitinib) as an oral therapy for the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in adults with objective signs of inflammation, as indicated by elevated c-reactive protein and/or magnetic resonance imaging.

The US drugmaker previously disclosed top-line results from Phase III clinical trials showing a superior response to its drug than placebo, and there were no alarm bells on the safety side.

"For years, healthcare providers and patients have had limited treatment options to manage axial spondyloarthritis, which can cause back pain, stiffness, and irreversible damage to the spine," said Thomas Hudson, senior vice president of research and development, chief scientific officer at AbbVie.