The Food and Drug Administration on Friday said it approved Celgene Corp.’s drug Otezla to treat adults with psoriatic arthritis.

 

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling in patients with psoriasis.

 

The FDA said it approved the drug based on three trials in 1,493 patients that showed improvement in symptoms, including swollen joints and physical function.

 

The agency says patients should have their weight monitored and discontinue the drug if significant weight loss related to the treatment occurs. The drug was also associated with increased reports of depression compared with placebo. Other common side effects reported in patients include diarrhea, nausea and headache.

 

Celgene is based in Summit, N.J.

 

Date: March 21, 2014

Source: Associated Press