Centocor asks FDA to expand use of Simponi

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Centocor asks FDA to expand use of Simponi

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JDVR2G0.htm

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc., a & subsidiary, said Thursday

it submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration to expand

the use of the injectable drug Simponi in treating patients with active

psoriatic arthritis.

Centocor said in a statement it is asking the FDA to approve the use of

Simponi to slow the progress of joint damage caused by the arthritis, a

" potentially devastating manifestation " sometimes tied to the arthritis. The

drug already is approved to treat the disease.

It also is approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and Centocor submitted an

application last month to the FDA to expand that use to include joint damage

from that form of arthritis as well.