Further licence extension for adalimumab in arthritis

on the 17 December 2012

Humira is the first biologic specifically licensed for use in non-radiographic severe axial spondyloarthritis.

The recommended adult dose of Humira in ankylosing spondylitis is 40mg as a single subcutaneous injection every two weeks | SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Humira (adalimumab) is indicated for the treatment of adults with severe axial spondyloarthritis without radiographic evidence of AS who have objective signs of inflammation (elevated CRP and/or MRI) and who have had an inadequate response to, or are intolerant to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

In the Phase III trial (ABILITY-1), patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis were randomised to receive either adalimumab (n=91) 40mg by subcutaneous injection or placebo (n=94) every other week for 12 weeks.

Significant improvement in disease signs and symptoms, defined as a minimum 40% improvement from baseline in the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) response criteria, was seen at week 12 in a greater proportion of the adalimumab group than the placebo group (36% vs 15%, p<0.001).

View Humira drug record

Further information: AbbVie Ltd

Follow MIMS on Twitter