New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Approved

The FDA has granted Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. U.S. approval to market a new rheumatoid arthritis drug called Orencia. The new drug is a T-cell co-stimulation modulator and inhibits activation of T-cells to relieve joint pain.

Orencia, known generically as abatacept, was approved by the FDA for treating moderate to severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis where other therapies are not as effective.