AbbVie, Bristol-Myers, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, UCB sales and marketing update

The U.K.’s NICE issued updated draft guidance recommending seven drugs in combination with methotrexate to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients whose disease has not responded to previous, intensive therapy -- their approved indications. The drugs are Humira adalimumab from AbbVie, Enbrel etanercept from Pfizer, Remicade infliximab from Merck, Cimzia certolizumab from UCB, Simponi golimumab from Merck, RoActemra tocilizumab from Roche and Orencia abatacept from Bristol-Myers Squibb.

AbbVie and Eisai Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4523, Tokyo, Japan) are jointly developing Humira, a human mAb against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. Enbrel is a recombinant p75 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1 (TNFr:Fc). ...