, a once daily tablet, has become available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for eligible patients living with severe active Crohn’s disease (CD)1,2
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 4 December 2023 – AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), is pleased to announce RINVOQ® (upadacitinib), a once daily tablet, has been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for adult patients with severe Crohn’s disease (CD), who have had an inadequate response, lost response or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or biological medicine.1
RINVOQ is a once daily oral tablet and the first new molecule to be listed on the PBS for CD in seven years.3 Prior to this, the main approaches for managing the disease have been intravenous infusions or subcutaneous injections.9
RINVOQ® contains the active ingredient Upadacitinib, which is a Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor. JAK enzymes create signals in the body’s immune system that result in inflammation. RINVOQ® works to block these signals, thereby reducing inflammation and the production of immune cells within the body.2,9,
According to data from a 2021 study, it is estimated that approximately 77,000 Australians have CD.4 CD is one of two major types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).5,8 Australia has one of the highest rates of CD in the world.6
CD can be found anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, however it is more commonly diagnosed in the area between the small intestine and large intestine.8 Symptoms of the disease include persistent diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding & unexpected weight loss.8 Severity of CD is also on the rise, with up to 80% of people diagnosed with CD needing surgery at some point in their lives.9,10
A diagnosis of CD can occur at any age but is more common in young people from 20-30 years old.11-13 The diagnosis journey can be challenging, with many receiving multiple misdiagnoses, trialling of many treatments and specialists as symptoms vary for everyone.14 It can then typically take two years to find the optimal management plan to control the condition.15
Leanne Raven, CEO of Crohn’s & Colitis Australia said, “Despite being described as an ‘invisible disease’ the impact of Crohn’s disease cannot be overstated. The high prevalence of psychological distress has a significant impact on all aspects of life including ability to work, family and friendships. With over 50% experiencing distress and only a third of those with severe distress seeing a mental health practitioner many are not receiving the mental health support needed.16 Given many receive their diagnosis at the prime of their life, having access to more treatment options that will improve the quality of life for this community is paramount, especially as there is currently no cure.”
Associate Professor Gregory Moore, Head of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Monash Health Melbourne says, “As prevalence and severity of Crohn’s disease continues to rise in our community, an expansion of treatment options is crucial. The accessibility of RINVOQ for individuals living with Crohn’s disease offers the clinical community an additional avenue for managing this challenging condition. Given the variability of symptoms among individuals this makes this news especially encouraging.”
Nathalie McNeil, Vice President and General Manager of AbbVie Australia and New Zealand added, “AbbVie has a long and established history of working collaboratively with the IBD community to help those living with the condition. We take great pride in our research and development capabilities, as they have significantly enhanced the efficiency and accessibility of bringing medicines to patients. We are so pleased to be able to extend our listing of RINVOQ, offering a new treatment option for people living with CD.”
RINVOQ® is also PBS listed for severe active rheumatoid arthritis, chronic severe atopic dermatitis, severe psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (refer to the PBS schedule for full information).2
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