Humira's Approval Widened to Include Ulcerative Colitis
FRIDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Humira (adalimumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis in adults, the agency said Friday.
Humira -- a type of drug called an anti-tumor necrosis factor that's designed to suppress abnormal inflammatory and immune responses -- has already been approved to treat a host of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and plaque psoriasis.
Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine. With common symptoms including unusual stool frequency and rectal bleeding, it affects about 620,000 people in the United States, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The most common side effects of Humira include infection, injection-site reaction, headache and rash, according to an FDA news release.
The drug is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, based in North Chicago, Ill.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about ulcerative colitis.
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