Sarilumab more effective than Humira, study reveals

French drugmaker Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) and US biotech firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: REGN) have announced that late-stage trials of sarilumab have shown it is superior to AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) blockbuster drug Humira (adalimumab).

The monotherapy SARIL-RA-MONARCH study met its primary endpoint by demonstrating that sarilumab was superior to adalimumab in improving signs and symptoms in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sarilumab is an investigational, human IL-6 receptor antibody.

Janet van Adelsberg, senior director of clinical sciences, immunology and inflammation at Regeneron, said: “In this study, sarilumab monotherapy provided stronger efficacy than adalimumab. This is the first time an IL-6 receptor blocker delivered subcutaneously has demonstrated superiority over adalimumab monotherapy in RA.”