By Colin Kellaher
AbbVie said a key European regulatory committee has recommended expanded approval of its blockbuster autoimmune drug Rinvoq in the autoimmune diseases vitiligo and alopecia areata.
AbbVie on Monday said the positive opinions from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use cover Rinvoq for the treatment of adults and adolescents with severe alopecia areata, which causes a range of hair loss patterns, and with the depigmenting disorder non-segmental vitiligo.
The European Commission, which generally follows CHMP's advice, will now review the recommendation, with a decision expected in the coming months, the North Chicago, Ill., biopharmaceutical company said.
AbbVie said a green light would make Rinvoq the first systemic medication available in Europe for patients with non-segmental vitiligo, the most common form of vitiligo, which is marked by symmetrical and bilateral depigmented white patches of skin.
AbbVie has previously said it expects revenue from Rinvoq, which is already approved for use in several autoimmune diseases, to top $10 billion this year.
Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com