An FDA expert committee has unanimously recommended Bristol-Myers Squibb's Orencia for rheumatoid arthritis. If the FDA follows up with a formal approval, some analysts believe that the drug could earn as much as $1.5 billion per year by 2010. The drug is designed to suppress the patient's immune system in order to control inflammation. RA occurs when the body's immune system improperly targets joints with an inflammatory response. If approved, BMS plans to target patients who don't currently respond to existing therapies. BMS also pledged an aggressive follow-up to make sure the drug is safe and effective.
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