With the decision, Xeljanz becomes the first and only oral Janus kinase inhibitor to be approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adults with active PsA.
Pfizer has been steadily building a franchise around its inflammatory diseases pill, Xeljanz (tofacitinib) over the last few years, and it could add another use after US experts recommended a licence in ulcerative colitis.
Pfizer Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR have received US marketing clearance for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who have failed to respond or are intolerant to methotrexate or other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).