FDA approves Orencia (abatacept) for active Psoriatic Arthritis- BMS
The FDA has approved Orencia (abatacept), from BMS, for the treatment of adults with active Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), a chronic, inflammatory disease that can affect both the skin and musculoskeletal system. Orencia is approved and available in both intravenous and subcutaneous (SC) injection formulations. Orencia should not be administered concomitantly with TNF antagonists, and is not recommended for use concomitantly with other biologic Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) therapy, such as anakinra. This approval marks the third autoimmune disease indication for Orencia.
The approval was based on results from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in which Orencia improved (or reduced) disease activity in both TNF-naive and exposed patients with high disease activity, high tender and swollen joints, and a disease duration of more than seven years.