FDA approves Rinvoq as first oral drug for Crohn's disease.
The FDA has approved Rinvoq, the first oral drug for moderate to severe Crohn’s disease, a chronic intestinal disorder. Rinvoq belongs to a class of drugs known as Janus kinase inhibitors, which moderate the body’s immune response and ease inflammation. The drug has already been approved to treat six other immune-related disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, the skin condition atopic dermatitis and ulcerative colitis. AbbVie Inc., the manufacturer of Rinvoq, is expected to rely on the drug as its leading moneymaker as the patents for its bestselling drug Humira are due to expire within a few years. However, the FDA has increased scrutiny of all Janus kinase inhibitors in recent years due to reports of serious heart-related side effects and cancer risks.