Bristol-Myers Squibb has received approval from the European Commission for a new use for it rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug, Orencia (abatacept) intravenous infusion and subcutaneous injection. The drug is now approved for use in combination with methotrexate (MTX) for treating highly active and progressive disease in adult patients with RA not previously treated with MTX. This approval allows for the expanded marketing of Orencia in all 28 member states of the European Union.

Orencia is currently approved in the US for moderate-to-severe RA in adults and moderate-to-severe active polyarticular juvenile iodpathic arthritis in pediatric patients six years of age and older. The drug had 2015 global sales of nearly $1.9 billion.

Source: Bristol Myers Squibb