Abbott's Humira approved in Europe for ankylosing spondylitis

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., June 7 - Abbott Laboratories has received approval from the European Commission to market Humira in Europe as a treatment for severe, active ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic disease of the axial skeleton and large peripheral joints that causes inflammatory back pain and stiffness.

Abbott's application for Humira for ankylosing spondylitis in the United States is under review.

Humira will be available immediately to patients with ankylosing spondylitis in several E.U. countries, including Germany, Spain, Finland and Denmark.

Availability in other E.U. countries will occur in subsequent months as each country adopts pricing and reimbursement policies.

This is the third in a series of autoimmune diseases targeted for Humira therapy. Humira also is approved in the European Union for the treatment of severe, active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, according to a news release.

Ankylosing spondylitis, which is also associated with inflammatory diseases of the skin, eyes and intestines, can result in complete spinal fusion, causing extreme physical limitation.

Abbott is a global health care company with headquarters in Abbott Park, Ill.

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