Pfizer's Xeljanz scores EU approval for active psoriatic arthritis

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. In 2017, Xeljanz in combination with MTX was approved in the EU for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more DMARDs.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease that may include manifestations in peripheral joints, tendons, ligaments or skin.

"People living with psoriatic arthritis may experience a variety of symptoms, making the condition particularly difficult to diagnose and treat," said Angela Lukin, Regional President, Inflammation and Immunology at Pfizer. "We are now able to offer XELJANZ as an option to adult patients living with active psoriatic arthritis in the EU."

The EC approval was based on a submission package that included data from the Phase 3 Oral Psoriatic Arthritis TriaLs (OPAL) clinical development programme in PsA, which consisted of two pivotal studies, OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond, as well as available data from an ongoing long-term extension trial, OPAL Balance.

"Psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition  […] causes joint pain and swelling that can eventually lead to permanent joint damage if not diagnosed and treated sufficiently early on," said Frank Behrens, Rheumatology at Goethe University and Fraunhofer IME-Translational Medicine & Pharmacology, Frankfurt, Germany. "This approval for XELJANZ is an important milestone for the psoriatic arthritis community."

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