NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HUMIRA® (adalimumab) for the treatment of non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis. HUMIRA is now the first and only FDA-approved non-corticosteroid therapy available for adults with non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis. This approval marks the 10th approved indication for HUMIRA in the United States for immune-mediated diseases.

This month, the European Commission also approved HUMIRA in the European Union for the treatment of non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids, in patients in need of corticosteroid-sparing, or in whom corticosteroid treatment is inappropriate.

"We are pleased to provide patients with the first FDA-approved non-corticosteroid treatment option for certain types of uveitis, an eye disease that can flare and impact vision," said Mike Severino, M.D., executive vice president, research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "These approvals reflect our ongoing focus on continuing to innovate with HUMIRA to address critical unmet needs of patients living with serious immune-mediated diseases."

"These approvals provide a valuable option for patients experiencing flare and vision impairment associated with this group of inflammatory diseases of the eye," said Glenn J. Jaffe, M.D., Duke University, Durham, N.C. "Data from the robust VISUAL clinical trial program demonstrate the value of HUMIRA as a treatment option for patients with these serious diseases."

Prior to this approval, ophthalmologists and rheumatologists had no FDA-approved treatment options other than corticosteroids. HUMIRA targets and helps block TNF-α, a specific source of inflammation that can have a role in uveitis.1,2 The FDA approval is based on results from two pivotal Phase 3 studies, VISUAL-I and VISUAL-II, which demonstrated that adult patients with active and controlled non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis treated with HUMIRA had a significantly lower risk for treatment failure (a combination of uveitic flare and decrease in visual acuity), compared to placebo. No new safety risks were identified for adult patients with non-infectious uveitis treated with HUMIRA every other week.3

In 2014, the FDA granted HUMIRA orphan drug designation for the treatment of certain forms of uveitis, which affect a population of fewer than 200,000 patients. The orphan drug designation provides HUMIRA the potential to be granted seven years of market exclusivity for the treatment of non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis in adult patients.

Since its first approval in the United States more than 13 years ago, HUMIRA has been approved in more than 90 countries. It is currently being used to treat more than 989,000 patients worldwide4 across 14 globally approved indications and 10 U.S. approved indications.3,5,6

About VISUAL-I and VISUAL-II

The pivotal clinical trials investigated active and controlled non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis. Both trials were double-masked, randomized and placebo-controlled. VISUAL-I and VISUAL-II clinical trials were randomized 1:1 and patients treated with HUMIRA received an 80 mg baseline loading dose followed by 40 mg given by subcutaneous injection at week 1, followed by 40 mg every other week for up to 80 weeks. The primary endpoint in the VISUAL-I and VISUAL-II studies was time to treatment failure (TF), defined as having one or more of the following components present in at least one eye: increase in anterior chamber cells or vitreous haze, new chorioretinal or vascular lesions, or decrease in visual acuity.

The VISUAL-I study found that, compared to placebo, patients on HUMIRA were significantly less likely to experience TF (hazard ratio=0.5; 95 percent CI, 0.36–0.70; P<0.001). Median time to TF was prolonged by 87 percent, from 3 months for placebo to 5.6 months for HUMIRA.3 In the VISUAL-II study, the median time to TF was 8.3 months for placebo and not estimable (>18 months) for HUMIRA, as more than half of the HUMIRA-treated patients did not experience TF (hazard ratio=0.57; 95% Cl, 0.39-0.84; P=0.004).3

About HUMIRA in the U.S.

Uses3

HUMIRA is a prescription medicine used:

To reduce the signs and symptoms of: Moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults . HUMIRA can be used alone, with methotrexate, or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to bones and joints and may help the ability to perform daily activities. Moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children 2 years of age and older. HUMIRA can be used alone, with methotrexate, or with certain other medicines. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to bones and joints and may help the ability to perform daily activities. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults. Moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) and to achieve and maintain clinical remission in adults who have not responded well to certain other medications. HUMIRA is also used to reduce signs and symptoms and to achieve clinical remission in these adults who have lost response to or are unable to tolerate infliximab. Moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) and to achieve and maintain clinical remission in children 6 years of age and older when certain other treatments have not worked well enough. Moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in adults.

In adults, to help get moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) under control (induce remission) and keep it under control (sustain remission) when certain other medicines have not worked well enough. It is not known if HUMIRA is effective in people who stopped responding to or could not tolerate anti-TNF medicines.

under control (induce remission) and keep it under control (sustain remission) when certain other medicines have not worked well enough. It is not known if HUMIRA is effective in people who stopped responding to or could not tolerate anti-TNF medicines. To treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis (Ps) in adults who are ready for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and are under the care of a doctor who will decide if other systemic therapies are less appropriate.

in adults who are ready for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and are under the care of a doctor who will decide if other systemic therapies are less appropriate. To treat non-infectious intermediate (middle part of the eye), posterior (back of the eye) and panuveitis (all parts of the eye) (UV) in adults.

Important Safety Information3

HUMIRA is a TNF blocker medicine that affects the immune system and can lower the body's ability to fight infections. Serious infections have happened in people taking HUMIRA. These serious infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. People should be tested for TB before HUMIRA use and monitored for signs and symptoms of TB during therapy. People at risk of TB may be treated with medicine for TB. Treatment with HUMIRA should not be started in a person with an active infection, unless approved by a doctor. HUMIRA should be stopped if a person develops a serious infection. People should tell their doctor if they live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common, have had TB or hepatitis B, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores.

For people taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death. If using TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting two types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell) may increase. These types are generally not life-threatening if treated.

Other possible serious side effects with HUMIRA include hepatitis B infection in carriers of the virus; allergic reactions; nervous system problems; blood problems; certain immune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome; liver problems; and new or worsening heart failure or psoriasis. The use of HUMIRA with anakinra or abatacept is not recommended. People using HUMIRA should not receive live vaccines.

Common side effects of HUMIRA include injection site reactions (redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising), upper respiratory infections (including sinus infections), headaches, rash, and nausea.

HUMIRA is given by injection under the skin.

The benefits and risks of HUMIRA should be carefully considered before starting therapy.

Please click here for the Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

HUMIRA EU Therapeutic Indications5

HUMIRA is approved for use in adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis, severe active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), severe axial spondyloarthritis without radiographic evidence of AS, moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis, active and progressive psoriatic arthritis, moderately to severely active Crohn's disease, moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, active moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa, and non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis in adults. HUMIRA is approved for use in pediatric patients with active enthesitis-related arthritis, severe chronic plaque psoriasis, moderately to severely active Crohn's disease, and active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. See Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for full indication.

Important EU Safety Information5

HUMIRA is contraindicated in patients with active tuberculosis or other severe infections such as sepsis, and opportunistic infections and in patients with moderate to severe heart failure (NYHA class III/IV). It is also contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to the active substance or to any of the excipients. The use of HUMIRA increases the risk of developing serious infections which may, in rare cases, be life threatening. Rare cases of lymphoma and leukemia have been reported in patients treated with HUMIRA. On rare occasions, a severe type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma has been observed and often results in death. A risk for the development of malignancies in patients treated with TNF-antagonists cannot be excluded. The most frequently reported adverse events across all indications included respiratory infections, injection site reactions, headache and musculoskeletal pain.

(See SmPC for full details)

Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.

About AbbVie

AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, challenges to intellectual property, competition from other products, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, and changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry.

Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

References

1 Brezin AP, Kestelyn P, Van Calster J, Jaffe GJ, Thorne JE, Scales D, Franco P, Dick AD, Nguyen QD, Suhler EB, Camez A, Song AP, Kron M, Tari S, Rosenbaum JT, Heiligenhaus A. Adalimumab in Patients with Active, Noninfectious Uveitis Using High-Dose Corticosteroids [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015; 67 (suppl 10). http://acrabstracts.org/abstract/adalimumab-in-patients-with-active-noninfectious-uveitis-using-high-dose-corticosteroids/. Accessed May 26, 2016.

2 Nguyen QD, Kurup SK, Merrill P, Sheppard J, Van Calster J, Dick AD, Jaffe G, Mackensen F, Rosenbaum JT, Schlaen A, Camez A, Tari S, Kron M, Song A, Brezin A. Adalimumab in Patients with Inactive, Non-Infectious Uveitis Requiring Systemic Treatment [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015; 67(suppl 10). http://acrabstracts.org/abstract/adalimumab-in-patients-with-inactive-non-infectious-uveitis-requiring-systemic-treatment/. Accessed May 26, 2016.

3 HUMIRA Injection [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: AbbVie Inc.

4 Data on File ABVRRTI62403.

5 HUMIRA [Summary of Product Characteristics]. AbbVie Ltd. http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/000481/human_med_000822.jsp&murl=menus/medicines/ medicines.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d124. Last updated June 16, 2016. Accessed June 29, 2016.

6 Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) website. New Drugs Approved in FY 2013. Available at: http://www.pmda.go.jp/files/000153463.pdf#page=1. Accessed June 29, 2016.

SOURCE AbbVie