Humira (Abbott) benefits in ABILITY-1 study in patients with active non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Initial 12-week data from the ABILITY-1 study of Humira (adalimumab)from Abbott showed that a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving Humira (40mg every other week) achieved a 40% or greater improvement from baseline using the ASAS (or Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society) response criteria compared with placebo (36% vs 15%, p<0.001). also significantly more patients achieved the secondary endpoint of asdas inactive disease state 24.2 versus 4.3 p><0.001).after week 12 179 patients entered into the open-label extension and 144 had data for the week 68 analysis which was presented at the eular meeting. this showed that 80 of patients achieved a 20 improvement in the asas criteria and 67 had a 40 improvement. also 65 of patients had at least a 50 improvement in the bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index criteria basdai 50. 47 of patients achieved asfas inactive disease.>