Bristol-Myers Squibb says a study of the arthritis drug it plans to produce at its new Devens plant shows positive long-term results.
The new results come from a continuation of one of the studies that led to FDA approval of the drug, Orencia, in 2005. The company said the drug provided an increasing degree of inhibition of structural damage in the second and third year of treatment. Patients in the study had moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis that did not respond well to another drug, methotrexate.
Bristol-Myers plans to begin producing Orencia at the Devens biologics plant in 2011. The plant will employ 350 workers.
