Amgen’s Arthritis Drug Avsola Gets FDA Approval

Amgen Inc. on Friday announced its biosimilar treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Thousand Oaks biotech’s Avsola is a biosimilar copy of Remicade, Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster drug that also treats rheumatoid arthritis. It has the same chemical components, dosage form and strength as Remicade, according to a Reuters report. Amgen has not released pricing for Avsola. “The approval of Avsola represents an important milestone across our biosimilar and inflammation portfolios,” Murdo Gordon, executive vice president of global commercial operations at Amgen, said in a statement. “Following July’s exciting launches of our two biosimilars in oncology, Avsola highlights Amgen’s long-term commitment to providing more affordable biological treatment options to patients across critical disease states, including chronic inflammatory conditions.” Avsola also treats certain cases of Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis and psoriatic arthritis, Amgen said. Amgen has 10 biosimilars in its portfolio. Four have been approved in the U.S., and three are approved in the European Union, the company said. Shares of Amgen (AMGN) closed Friday up 36 cents, or a fraction of a percent, to $233.77 on the Nasdaq.