New Data on UCB's Cimzia
UCB (UCBJY) recently presented new data from the RAPID-PsA study and RAPID-axSpA study on Cimzia. The data was presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (:EULAR) Congress.
According to the recent findings, active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients treated with Cimzia showed improvements in pain, fatigue and health-related quality of life. Cimzia-treated PsA and axSpA patients have shown better workplace and household productivity, as well as more participation in social and daily activities as compared to those being administered placebo.
Similar observations were seen in ankylosing spondylitis (:AS) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) patients treated with Cimzia.
Cimzia is currently approved for Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Cimzia sales increased 27% year over year in the first quarter of 2013.
In Feb 2013, UCB filed with the US Food and Drug Administration (:FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (:EMA) for two additional indications – PsA and axSpA. These regulatory filings were based on the phase III RAPID-PsA and RAPID-axSpA studies.
RAPID-PsA was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study which showed improvements in the signs and symptoms of PsA compared to placebo in adult patients with or without prior anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) exposure.
RAPID-axSpA was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study which showed that both dosing regimens of Cimzia reduced the signs and symptoms of axSpA as compared to placebo.
Currently, the psoriatic arthritis market has drugs like AbbVie Inc.’s (ABBV) Humira and Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) Simponi among others.
UCB carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). However, Santarus, Inc. (SNTS) looks more attractive with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Read the Full Research Report on UCBJF
Read the Full Research Report on ABBV
Read the Full Research Report on SNTS
Read the Full Research Report on JNJ
More From Zacks.com
