By Robb M. Stewart

AbbVie Inc. on Thursday reported positive top-line results from two studies of an investigational once-daily treatment for patients with active ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

In a late-stage clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Rinvoq in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis who had an inadequate response to biologic DMARD therapy, the company said the treatment met its primary endpoint. Significantly more Rinvoq-treated patients achieved ASAS40 response at week 14 compared with a placebo, AbbVie said.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a debilitating disease that can cause severe pain, stiffness, restricted mobility and lasting structural damage. Michael Severino, vice chairman and president of AbbVie, said the results show Rinvoq was able to provide significant improvements in signs and symptoms, as well as other measures of disease activity, for patients living with ankylosing spondylitis who have already failed treatment with a biologic.

Treatment with Rinvoq resulted in statistically significant reductions in signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, including back pain and inflammation, as well as improvements in physical function and disease activity at week 14, the company said.

In study two, AbbVie said upadacitinib, or Rinvoq, met the primary endpoint of assessment in SpondyloArthritis International Society 40 response and 12 of 14 ranked secondary endpoints at week 14. Treatment with Rinvoq resulted in reductions in signs and symptoms of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, including back pain and inflammation, as well as improvements in physical function and disease activity at week 14, it said.

Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis affects a younger adult patient population.

Full results from the Select-Axis 2 trial will be presented at a future medical meeting and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, the company said.

In premarket trading, AbbVie's shares were trading 0.9% higher after ending Wednesday at $109.32, up 2% since the end of last year.

Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-07-21 0911ET