FDA Panel Votes No on J&J RA Drug

Aug. 2, 2017

An FDA advisory panel concluded that the benefits of Johnson & Johnson's experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug, sirukumab, do not outweigh the risks.

The panel voted 12-1 against the approval of the drug, citing safety concerns.

Two days prior, a FDA report concluded that more deaths were reported in patients taking sirukumab than those taking a placebo.

Currently, there are two drugs in the same class already on the market -- Roche Holding's Actemra, and Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ Kevzara.

Read the Reuters release