Credit: Shutterstock photoBristol-Myers Squibb Company 's ( BMY ) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug Orencia (125 mg) performed well in a phase IIIb study (AVERT: n= 351). The study evaluated Orencia in combination with methotrexate (MTX) as a first-line therapy for adults suffering from the chronic autoimmune disease.
Data from the active-controlled study revealed that at 12 months of treatment, 60.9% patients in the Orencia plus MTX arm achieved DAS-defined (DAS28 CRP
In addition, data from the study revealed that even after the withdrawal of all RA drugs, the benefits were maintained (for 6 months) in more patients in the combination arm than those treated solely with MTX. Orencia was also found to be well tolerated in the study. Bristol-Myers presented the data at the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).
Orencia, one of the older drugs at Bristol-Myers, is available both in intravenous as well as subcutaneous forms. The drug performed well in the first quarter of 2014, with sales climbing 13% year over year to $363 million.
Besides Bristol-Myers, we note that the RA market includes players like Pfizer ( PFE ) and AbbVie ( ABBV ).
Bristol-Myers carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). An example of a better-ranked stock in the healthcare space is Gilead Sciences ( GILD ), carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
