Another EC approval for Orencia, now in PsA

The European Commission (EC) has approved Orencia (abatacept) alone or in combination with methotrexate for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) adult patients for whom the response to previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, including methotrexate, has been inadequate, and additional systemic therapy for psoriatic skin lesions is not required.

Under existing indications, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (NYSE: BMY) Orencia generated sales of $535 million in the first quarter of this year, up 13% on the like 2016 period.

This approval, which allows for the expanded marketing of Orencia as a treatment for PsA in all 28 member states of the European Union, marks the second new indication for Orencia in less than a year; in September 2016, the European Commission approved Orencia, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), for the treatment of highly active and progressive disease in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not previously treated with MTX. PsA becomes the third autoimmune condition, along with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, for which Orencia is approved to treat in Europe.