European regulators have added to the long list of indications for Pfizer’s Enbrel (etanercept) allowing its use to treat patients with severe non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).

Nr-axSpA is a subtype of the progressive disease axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a chronic lifelong inflammatory disease affecting spine and hip joints.

The term ‘non-radiographic’ describes patients in the early stage of the disease, who experience symptoms - including lower back pain and inflamed tendons and ligaments - before structural changes can be detected by x-ray.

European approval was based on clinical data showing that more patients treated with Enbrel showed significant improvement compared to placebo (32.4% vs. 15.7%) in measures of disease activity and function, and decreases in inflammation after 12 weeks’ therapy. 

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/14-08-06/EU_clears_Enbrel_for_early_axial_spondyloarthritis.aspx?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter