AbbVie Announces European Commission Approval of RINVOQ® (upadacitinib) for the Treatment of Children with Active Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

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- RINVOQ is now approved in the European Union for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in patients two years of age and older who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to, one or more DMARDs1

- Approval was based on the open-label Phase 1 SELECT-YOUTH study and data from adults with rheumatoid arthritis1,2

- A new oral solution of RINVOQ was approved for use in patients with pJIA1

- RINVOQ is currently approved in the European Union for 11 indications across various immune-mediated, inflammatory diseases1

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved RINVOQ® (upadacitinib; 15 mg tablet and weight-based 1 mg/mL oral solution) for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (polyarticular rheumatoid factor positive [RF+] or negative [RF-], extended oligoarticular), in patients two years of age and older who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to, one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate.1

"The European Commission's approval of RINVOQ for pJIA expands the treatment options available to pediatric patients and their families, offering the potential for remission, improvements in pain and physical function," said Roopal Thakkar, M.D., executive vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "RINVOQ's new indication continues to build on our differentiated immunology portfolio with breadth and depth across therapeutic areas and patient populations."

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease of childhood and is estimated to impact approximately 126,000 children in Europe.3 pJIA is a subtype of JIA and is characterized by inflammation in five or more joints – including the small joints of the hands and feet and large joints like the knees, hips and ankles – that persists for at least six weeks in children and adolescents.4,5 This disease can be painful and debilitating and, if left untreated, may lead to joint damage.3,6 Ongoing disease activity in pJIA is common, with persistent symptoms or flares affecting many patients into adulthood.6-8

Data Supporting the EC Approval

The EC approval of RINVOQ for pJIA is supported by the SELECT-YOUTH study and data from adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The SELECT-YOUTH study is a single-arm, open-label, global, Phase 1 study evaluating the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety and tolerability of RINVOQ in patients ages 2 to 18 years.1,2

RINVOQ demonstrated efficacy as early as week 12, with response rates improving through week 48, as shown below.1,2 The efficacy observed in children with pJIA was generally consistent with responses in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis.1

Functional ability, as measured by C-HAQ, improved, with a mean change from baseline of −0.46 (n=115) at week 12 and −0.64 (n=108) at week 48. Pain scores also improved, with a mean change from baseline of −26.2 (n=116) at week 12 and −30.8 (n=109) at week 48. C-HAQ and pain data are reported as observed.2

In the study, no new safety risks were identified.9 The rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was 499.6 events per 100 patient-years (E/100 PY). The rate of serious adverse events was 10.2 E/100 PY. The rate of TEAEs that led to discontinuation of the study drug was 2.7 E/100 PY. No cases of major cardiovascular or thrombotic events, malignancies or deaths were reported during the study period.2 No negative impact on growth or development was observed.9

"The SELECT-YOUTH results underscore that clinical remission for children with pJIA is not a rare hope but a critical and achievable outcome that helps reduce the risk of permanent joint damage in some of our youngest, most vulnerable patients," said Prof. Dr. Gerd Horneff, head of the Department of General Pediatrics, Asklepios Clinic, Sankt Augustin, Germany. "The approval of RINVOQ in active pJIA provides a new oral systemic treatment option for patients suffering from this often-debilitating condition."

RINVOQ is also approved in the European Union for the treatment of adults and adolescents with atopic dermatitis, non-segmental vitiligo and alopecia areata and for adults with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and giant cell arteritis.1

About the SELECT-YOUTH Study

The SELECT-YOUTH (M15-340) study is a single-arm, open-label, global, Phase 1 study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety and tolerability of upadacitinib in patients with polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pcJIA), ages 2 to 18 years. This study consists of three parts: Part 1 consisted of a seven-day multiple-dose pharmacokinetic evaluation, after which patients in Parts 2 and 3 of the trial received a low dose of upadacitinib (equivalent to 15 mg) by using either a twice-daily oral solution or once-daily extended-release tablet based on their body weight and ability to swallow tablets. For more detailed information on this study, please visit clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03725007).

About RINVOQ® (upadacitinib)

Discovered and developed by AbbVie scientists, RINVOQ is a selective and reversible JAK inhibitor that is being studied in several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.1,10 In human cellular assays, RINVOQ preferentially inhibits signaling by JAK1 or JAK 1/3 with functional selectivity over cytokine receptors that signal via pairs of JAK2.1

Upadacitinib (RINVOQ) is being studied in Phase 3 clinical trials for hidradenitis suppurativa, Takayasu arteritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and in pediatric studies for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

EU Indications and Important Safety Information about RINVOQ® (upadacitinib)1

Indications

Rheumatoid arthritis

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate.

Psoriatic arthritis

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more DMARDs. RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate.

Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (polyarticular rheumatoid factor positive [RF+] or negative [RF-], extended oligoarticular), in patients 2 years of age and older who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more DMARDs. RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate.

Axial spondyloarthritis

Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adult patients with objective signs of inflammation as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), who have responded inadequately to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS, radiographic axial spondyloarthritis)

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy.

Giant cell arteritis

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in adult patients.

Atopic dermatitis

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults and adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy.

Alopecia areata

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents 12 years and older.

Vitiligo

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo in adults and adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy.

Ulcerative colitis

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) who have had an inadequate response, lost response or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a biologic agent.

Crohn's disease

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease who have had an inadequate response, lost response or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a biologic agent.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications

RINVOQ is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to the active substance or to any of the excipients, in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) or active serious infections, in patients with severe hepatic impairment, and during pregnancy.

Special warnings and precautions for use

RINVOQ should only be used if no suitable treatment alternatives are available in patients:

- 65 years of age and older;

- patients with history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease or other CV risk factors (such as current or past long-time smokers);

- patients with malignancy risk factors (e.g. current malignancy or history of malignancy)

Use in patients 65 years of age and older

Considering the increased risk of MACE, malignancies, serious infections, and all-cause mortality in patients ≥65 years of age, as observed in a large randomised study of tofacitinib (another Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor), RINVOQ should only be used in these patients if no suitable treatment alternatives are available.

Class (B2B/B2C)

B2B

Ingest Status

Need Review

Dedupe hash

prn_302885190

Press Eligible

Yes

Press Eligible Reason

QA FAIL (need review): TARGET claims the pJIA approval is a 'twelfth indication,' but SOURCE states RINVOQ is approved in the EU for 11 indications; the TARGET contradicts its own later count. The number is factually incorrect.

Source Name

Unknown Company

Original Summary

<p>RINVOQ is now approved in the European Union for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in patients two years of age and older who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to, one or more DMARDs1 Approval was based on the open-label Phase 1...</p>

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