Abbott announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for the use of Humira, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), as a treatment for active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in adolescents aged 13 to 17.

Additionally, Humira for JIA treatment is approved for those patients who have responded inadequately to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Humira can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to MTX or when continued treatment with MTX is inappropriate. JIA involves five or more joints and is the most common form of arthritis in children worldwide.

Humira is the first new biologic treatment introduced in eight years for patients with JIA and the first to offer a convenient, at-home and self-administered dose every other week. JIA is the first paediatric indication for Humira in Europe and the sixth indication for Humira overall.

JIA usually appears before the age of 16. Symptoms commonly include persistent joint swelling, pain and stiffness. Any joint can be affected and inflammation may limit the mobility of the affected joints. The goal of treatment is to control inflammation, relieve pain, preserve mobility and joint function, as well as prevent disease progression.

Humira is the only fully human monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Crohn's disease in the United States and Europe.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.