CIMZIA(R) (Certolizumab Pegol) Provides Long-Term Benefit Without Dose Escalation in Crohn's Diseas...( Several abstracts highlighting CI...),Health

Several abstracts highlighting CIMZIA's long-term benefits and value in moderate to severe Crohn's disease patients presented at American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)

ORLANDO, Fla. Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Data from two studies presented this week by UCB at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Meeting demonstrate that CIMZIA(R) (certolizumab pegol) - the only PEGylated anti-TNF alpha (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha) - provides sustained improvement in symptoms with stable dosing for adult patients suffering from moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD). A third study presented by UCB provided an estimated comparison of treatment costs and found that CIMZIA offers a cost savings versus other commonly-used biologics.

An analysis of the PRECiSE 3 open-label extension study data showed that after 2.5 years (30 months) of treatment with CIMZIA, 72 percent of patients were in remission based upon responder analysis. These clinical trial data will be presented by William Sandborn, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., a study investigator. Previously, UCB had reported remission data up to 18 months.

Furthermore, data from the WELCOME study showed that 39 percent of patients who responded to CIMZIA treatment after failing infliximab therapy achieved clinical remission within six weeks. Additionally, there were no differences in clinical response rates regardless of the reason for infliximab failure, and irrespective of treatment as a monotherapy or in combination with other common Crohn's disease medications.

CIMZIA, manufactured by UCB, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 22, 2008 for reducing signs and symptoms of moderate to severe Crohn's disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. The approval was based on safety and efficacy data from clinical trials in more than 1,500 patients with Crohn's disease
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