By Colin Kellaher


Bristol Myers Squibb Co. on Friday said the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended initial approval of its psoriasis drug Sotyktu, along with expanded approval of its anemia drug Reblozyl.

The New York biopharmaceutical company said the Sotyktu recommendation covers the drug for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin.

Bristol Myers last year won U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for Sotyktu for plaque psoriasis, launching a competitor to Amgen Inc.'s blockbuster Otezla.

Separately, Bristol Myers said the Reblozyl recommendation covers the drug for adults with anemia associated with non-transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder.

The company is developing and commercializing Reblozyl through a global collaboration with Merck & Co. after that company's acquisition of Acceleron Pharma Inc. in late 2021.

Bristol Myers said the European Commission, which generally follows CHMP's advice, would review the recommendations, adding that approval of the Reblozyl indication would mark the third for the drug in the EU.


Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-27-23 0749ET