Bristol-Myers Squibb to Present Data from 14 Abstracts on Orencia (abatacept) at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2015 Annual Meeting

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company BMY announced today that 14 abstracts on Orencia have been accepted for presentation at the 2015 annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), to be held June 10-13 in Rome, Italy. Several of this year's abstracts will focus on the safety and efficacy of Orencia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), which is a marker of worse prognosis and more progressive disease.

"Biologic markers, like ACPA, are key to helping rheumatologists diagnose RA patients earlier in the disease process," said Douglas Manion, M.D., Head of Specialty Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "As a leader in immunoscience, Bristol-Myers Squibb is proud to present new results at EULAR that will provide further data on the activity of Orencia in this patient population."

The complete list of Bristol-Myers Squibb presentations is below.

Title			Date/Time
Oral Presentation
The Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Patient Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life Prior to Biologic Initiation (CORRONA)			June 12, 2015 at 10:35 a.m. CET
Poster Presentations
Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Abatacept Compared with Adalimumab on Background Methotrexate in Biologic-Naïve RA Adult Patients By Anti-cyclic Citrullinated Peptide-Positive Subgroups (AMPLE)			June 11, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CET
In Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and an Inadequate Response to Methotrexate, Does Body Mass Index Influence the Efficacy of Abatacept on Inflammation When Measured by Power Doppler Ultrasonography? Results from the APPRAISE Study			June 11, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CET
Characteristics of Patients Initiating Abatacept for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Real World: Methodological Challenges for Comparative Safety Studies (-488 Baseline Data)			June 11, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CET
Effect of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide 2 Immunoglobulin M Serostatus on Efficacy Outcomes Following Treatment with Abatacept Plus Methotrexate in the AVERT Trial			June 11, 2015 at 1:45 p.m. CET
Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) – Defined Remission is as Stringent as ACR/EULAR Boolean-Defined Remission in a Clinical Trial of Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Abatacept			June 12, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CET
Real-World Incidence of Biologic Dose Escalation and Impact on Biologic Costs Among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Intravenous Agents Abatacept, Infliximab or Tocilizumab			June 12, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CET
Cost Comparison of Abatacept and Adalimumab Based on AMPLE, a 2-Year Head-to-Head Outcomes Study in Rheumatoid Arthritis			June 12, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CET
Autoimmune Diseases in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis			June 12, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CET
On Drug and Drug-Free Remission by Baseline Disease Duration in the AVERT Trial: Abatacept Versus Methotrexate Comparison in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis			June 12, 2015 at 12:05 p.m. CET
Proteomic Profiling Following Immunoaffinity Capture of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Identifies Changes in Multiple HDL-Associated Proteins Following Treatment with Abatacept or Adalimumab in the AMPLE Study of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis			June 12, 2015 at 12:05 p.m. CET
Incidence Rates of Skin Cancers During Exposure to Intravenous and Subcutaneous Abatacept in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From Pooled Clinical Trial Data			June 12, 2015 at 12:05 p.m. CET
Effect of Baseline Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide 2 Antibody Titre on Patient -Reported Outcomes Following Treatment with Subcutaneous Abatacept or Adalimumab			June 13, 2015 at 10:15 a.m. CET
Evaluation of Resource Utilization in RA Patients with and Without Infections in a Clinical Practice Setting (BRASS)			June 13, 2015 at 10:15 a.m. CET
Program Book
Impact of Baseline Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide 2 Antibody Titre on Efficacy Outcomes Following Treatment with Subcutaneous Abatacept or Adalimumab: 2- Year Results from the AMPLE Trial			N/A
Can Anti-TNF-Induced Autoantibody Conversion Be Reversed by Switching to Abatacept Therapy in Patients with RA on Background MTX?			N/A
Channeling of Biologic Agents: Comparing Baseline Characteristics of Biologic Naïve Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Initiating Abatacept, as Compared to Other Biologic Agents and Small Molecule Agents			N/A
Treatment Effects and Minimal Clinically Important Differences in Patient- eported Outcomes Following Treatment and Withdrawal of Abatacept, Methotrexate or Combination Therapy in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (AVERT)			N/A
Do Changes in Clinical Practice Over Time in Europe and Canada have an Impact on Baseline Characteristics of Patients Initiating Intravenous Abatacept in the ACTION Study? (Cohorts A, B and C)			N/A
Retention Rates and Clinical Outcomes in Cohorts of Patients (Biologic Naïve or Failed Prior Biologics) Treated with Intravenous Abatacept in a Real-World Setting: 6-Month Results from the ACTION Study			N/A
Baseline Characteristics and Changes in Disease Activity at 12 Months in Patients Treated with Abatacept Versus Other Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Clinical Practice Setting – Results from the BRASS Registry			N/A
Identification of Tuberculosis Incidence Through the Use of a Validated Claims -Based Algorithm Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Disease- Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs			N/A
Real-World Cost of Treating Inadequate Responders to Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor Therapy			N/A

About Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the lining of joints (or synovium), causing joint damage with chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling. RA causes limited range of motion and decreased joint function. The condition is more common in women than in men, who account for 75% of patients diagnosed with RA.

About Orencia

Orencia SC and IV is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. Orencia may be used as monotherapy or concomitantly with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) other than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists.

Orencia IV is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Orencia IV may be used as monotherapy or concomitantly with methotrexate (MTX). Orencia SC has not been studied in pediatric patients.

Orencia should not be administered concomitantly with TNF antagonists.

Orencia is not recommended for use concomitantly with other biologic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy, such as anakinra.

Orencia is intended for use under the guidance of a physician or healthcare practitioner.

Indications/Usage and Important Safety Information for ORENCIA® (abatacept)

Indications/Usage

Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): ORENCIA® (abatacept) is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active RA. ORENCIA may be used as monotherapy or concomitantly with disease-modifying, anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) other than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): ORENCIA is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with moderately to severely active polyarticular JIA. ORENCIA may be used as monotherapy or concomitantly with methotrexate (MTX).

Important Limitations of Use: ORENCIA should not be administered concomitantly with TNF antagonists, and is not recommended for use concomitantly with other biologic RA therapy, such as anakinra.

Important Safety Information

Concomitant Use with TNF Antagonists: Concurrent therapy with ORENCIA® (abatacept) and a TNF antagonist is not recommended. In controlled clinical trials, adult patients receiving concomitant intravenous ORENCIA and TNF antagonist therapy experienced more infections (63%) and serious infections (4.4%) compared to patients treated with only TNF antagonists (43% and 0.8%, respectively), without an important enhancement of efficacy.

Hypersensitivity: Anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions can occur during or after an infusion and can be life-threatening. There were 2 cases (<0.1%; n=2688) of anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions in clinical trials with adult RA patients treated with intravenous ORENCIA. Other reactions potentially associated with drug hypersensitivity, such as hypotension, urticaria, and dyspnea, each occurred in <0.9% of patients. There was one case of a hypersensitivity reaction with ORENCIA in JIA clinical trials (0.5%; n=190). In postmarketing experience, a case of fatal anaphylaxis following the first infusion of ORENCIA was reported. Appropriate medical support measures for treating hypersensitivity reactions should be available for immediate use. If an anaphylactic or other serious allergic reaction occurs, administration of ORENCIA should be stopped immediately and permanently discontinued, with appropriate therapy instituted.

Infections: Serious infections, including sepsis and pneumonia, have been reported in patients receiving ORENCIA. Some of these infections have been fatal. Many of the serious infections have occurred in patients on concomitant immunosuppressive therapy which in addition to their underlying disease, could further predispose them to infection. Caution should be exercised in patients with a history of infection or underlying conditions which may predispose them to infections. Treatment with ORENCIA® (abatacept) should be discontinued if a patient develops a serious infection. Patients should be screened for tuberculosis and viral hepatitis in accordance with published guidelines, and if positive, treated according to standard medical practice prior to therapy with ORENCIA® (abatacept).

Immunizations: Live vaccines should not be given concurrently with ORENCIA or within 3 months of its discontinuation. The efficacy of vaccination in patients receiving ORENCIA is not known. ORENCIA may blunt the effectiveness of some immunizations. It is recommended that JIA patients be brought up to date with all immunizations in agreement with current immunization guidelines prior to initiating therapy with ORENCIA.

Use in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Adult COPD patients treated with ORENCIA developed adverse events more frequently than those treated with placebo (97% vs 88%, respectively). Respiratory disorders occurred more frequently in patients treated with ORENCIA compared to those on placebo (43% vs 24%, respectively), including COPD exacerbations, cough, rhonchi, and dyspnea. A greater percentage of patients treated with ORENCIA developed a serious adverse event compared to those on placebo (27% vs 6%), including COPD exacerbation [3 of 37 patients (8%)] and pneumonia [1 of 37 patients (3%)]. Use of ORENCIA in patients with RA and COPD should be undertaken with caution, and such patients monitored for worsening of their respiratory status.

Blood Glucose Testing: ORENCIA for intravenous administration contains maltose, which may result in falsely elevated blood glucose readings on the day of infusion when using blood glucose monitors with test strips utilizing glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinone (GDH-PQQ). Consider using monitors and advising patients to use monitors that do not react with maltose, such as those based on glucose dehydrogenase nicotine adenine dinucleotide (GDH-NAD), glucose oxidase, or glucose hexokinase test methods. ORENCIA for subcutaneous (SC) administration does not contain maltose; therefore, patients do not need to alter their glucose monitoring.

Pregnant and Nursing Mothers: ORENCIA should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. The risk for development of autoimmune diseases in humans exposed in utero to abatacept has not been determined. Nursing mothers should be informed of the risk/benefit of continued breast-feeding or discontinuation of the drug. A pregnancy registry has been established to monitor fetal outcomes. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to register pregnant patients exposed to ORENCIA by calling 1-877-311-8972.

Most Serious Adverse Reactions: Serious infections (3% ORENCIA® (abatacept) vs 1.9% placebo) and malignancies (1.3% ORENCIA vs 1.1% placebo).

Malignancies: The overall frequency of malignancies was similar between adult patients treated with ORENCIA or placebo. However, more cases of lung cancer were observed in patients treated with ORENCIA (0.2%) than those on placebo (0%). A higher rate of lymphoma was seen compared to the general population; however, patients with RA, particularly those with highly active disease, are at a higher risk for the development of lymphoma. The potential role of ORENCIA in the development of malignancies in humans is unknown.

Most Frequent Adverse Events (≥10%): Headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, and nausea were the most commonly reported adverse events in the adult RA clinical studies. Other events reported in ≥5% of JIA patients were diarrhea, cough, pyrexia, and abdominal pain. In general, the adverse events in pediatric patients were similar in frequency and type to those seen in adult patients.

Note concerning SC ORENCIA: The safety and efficacy of SC ORENCIA have not been studied in patients under 18 years of age.

Please see Full Prescribing Information at http://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_orencia.pdf.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.

For more information about Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit www.bms.com, or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.

ORENCIA^® (abatacept) is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb Immunoscience

The immune system is the body's natural defense against disease. These processes come into play in almost every human disease. That is why Bristol-Myers Squibb is focused on exploring ways to harness the body's own immune system to treat immune-related diseases with high unmet medical needs, including RA – a chronic, systemic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that affects the joints.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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