Abbott Reports Promising Results of PREMIER Study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients whose joint damage was inhibited through a combination therapy of HUMIRA (adalimumab) and methotrexate (MTX) early in the course of their disease were less likely to experience further damage two years later, according to a new Abbott study.

The PREMIER study found that patients with early RA (less than three years of disease duration) who were treated for six months with a combination of HUMIRA and methotrexate experienced significantly less radiographic progression (joint damage) compared to patients who took MTX alone. The data were presented at the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism.

In addition, PREMIER results also indicate that approximately one in two patients achieved clinical remission.