EULAR: High rates of DAS-defined remission with Bristol-Myers' Orencia in early RA

US drug major Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) has released new data from a Phase IIIb RA trial showing that the T-cell co-stimulation modulator, Orencia (abatacept) at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2014 Annual Congress in Paris, France.

Abatacept, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), achieved significantly higher rates of DAS-defined (DAS28 CRP <2.6) remission at 12 months than treatment with standard of care agent MTX (60.9% versus 45.2%, respectively) in biologic-naive patients with early active RA. Abatacept is indicated for use in combination with methotrexate (MTX) to treat moderate to severe active RA in adults who have had an inadequate response to a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), including MTX or a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist (also known as an anti-TNF).

Orencia, one of the older drugs at Bristol-Myers, is available both in intravenous as well as subcutaneous forms. The drug performed well in the first quarter of 2014, with sales climbing 13% year over year to $363 million.