AbbVie's new RA candidate meets all primary endpoints in Phase III study

AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) shares rose as much as 2.1% to $69.32 yesterday for a 22-month high after the company released new data on its investigational rheumatoid arthritis drug.

The US pharma major reported positive top-line results from the Phase III SELECT-NEXT clinical trial evaluating upadacitinib (ABT-494), an investigational oral JAK1-selective inhibitor, in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who did not adequately respond to treatment with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs).1

Results showed that after 12 weeks of treatment, both doses of upadacitinib (15mg and 30mg) met the study's primary endpoints of ACR20 and low disease activity. Key secondary endpoints were also achieved and included ACR50, ACR70 and clinical remission.Full results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and published in a peer-reviewed publication.