[caption id="attachment_9277" align="aligncenter" width="747"] Press Release[/caption] On 12 December 2019, the?Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use?(CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a?marketing authorisation?for the?medicinal product?Amsparity, intended for the treatment of certain inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The applicant for this?medicinal product?is Pfizer Europe MA EEIG. Amsparity will be available as a solution for injection (40 mg in a pre-filled syringe and pre-filled pen and, for paediatric use only, 20 mg in a pre-filled syringe and 40 mg/0.8 ml in a vial). The?active substance?of Amsparity is adalimumab, a monoclonal antibody and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) inhibitor (ATC code: L04AB04). Adalimumab binds to TNF and neutralises its biological function by blocking its interaction with the p55 and p75 cell-surface TNF receptors. Adalimumab also modulates biological responses that are induced or regulated by TNFa, including changes in the levels of adhesion molecules responsible for leucocyte migration (ELAM-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1). Amsparity is a biosimilar?medicinal product. It is highly similar to the reference product Humira (adalimumab) which was authorised in the EU on 8 September 2003. Data show that Amsparity has comparable quality, safety and?efficacy?to Humira. The full?indication?for the 40 mg solution for injection in a pre-filled syringe and pre-filled pen is: "Rheumatoid arthritis Amsparity in combination with methotrexate, is indicated for:

• the treatment of moderate to severe, active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients when the response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs including methotrexate has been inadequate.
• the treatment of severe, active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis in adults not previously treated with methotrexate.

Amsparity can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to methotrexate or when continued treatment with methotrexate is inappropriate. Adalimumab has been shown to reduce the rate of progression of joint damage as measured by X-ray and to improve physical function, when given in combination with methotrexate. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis Amsparity in combination with methotrexate is indicated for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, in patients from the age of 2?years who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Amsparity can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to methotrexate or when continued treatment with methotrexate is inappropriate (for the?efficacyin monotherapy see section 5.1). Adalimumab has not been studied in patients aged less than 2?years. Enthesitis-related arthritis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of active enthesitis-related arthritis in patients, 6?years of age and older, who have had an inadequate response to, or who are intolerant of, conventional therapy (see section 5.1). Axial spondyloarthritis Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. Axial spondyloarthritis without radiographic evidence of AS Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of adults with severe axial spondyloarthritis without radiographic evidence of AS but with objective signs of inflammation by elevated CRP and / or MRI, who have had an inadequate response to, or are intolerant to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Psoriatic arthritis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults when the response to previous disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy has been inadequate. Adalimumab has been shown to reduce the rate of progression of peripheral joint damage as measured by X-ray in patients with polyarticular symmetrical subtypes of the disease (see Section 5.1) and to improve physical function. Psoriasis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy. Paediatric plaque psoriasis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents from 4?years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are inappropriate candidates for topical therapy and phototherapies. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of active moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa) in adults and adolescents from 12?years of age with an inadequate response to conventional systemic HS therapy (see sections 5.1?and 5.2). Crohn?s disease Amsparity is indicated for treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn?s disease, in adult patients who have not responded despite a full and adequate course of therapy with a corticosteroid and/or an immunosuppressant; or who are intolerant to or have medical contraindications for such therapies. Paediatric Crohn?s disease Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn?s disease in paediatric patients (from 6?years of age) who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy including primary nutrition therapy and a corticosteroid and/or an immunomodulator, or who are intolerant to or have contraindications for such therapies. Ulcerative colitis Amsparity is indicated for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy including corticosteroids and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) or azathioprine (AZA), or who are intolerant to or have medical contraindications for such therapies. Uveitis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids, in patients in need of corticosteroid?sparing, or in whom corticosteroid treatment is inappropriate. Paediatric uveitis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of paediatric chronic non-infectious anterior uveitis in patients from 2 years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant to conventional therapy, or in whom conventional therapy is inappropriate." The full?indication?for the 20 mg solution for injection in a pre-filled syringe is: "Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis Amsparity in combination with methotrexate is indicated for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, in patients from the age of 2?years who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Amsparity can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to methotrexate or when continued treatment with methotrexate is inappropriate (for the?efficacyin monotherapy see section 5.1). Adalimumab has not been studied in patients aged less than 2?years. Enthesitis-related arthritis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of active enthesitis-related arthritis in patients, 6?years of age and older, who have had an inadequate response to, or who are intolerant of, conventional therapy (see section 5.1). Paediatric plaque psoriasis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents from 4?years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are inappropriate candidates for topical therapy and phototherapies. Paediatric Crohn?s disease Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn?s disease in paediatric patients (from 6?years of age) who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy including primary nutrition therapy and a corticosteroid and/or an immunomodulator, or who are intolerant to or have contraindications for such therapies. Paediatric uveitis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of paediatric chronic non-infectious anterior uveitis in patients from 2 years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant to conventional therapy, or in whom conventional therapy is inappropriate." The full?indication?for the 40 mg/0.8 ml solution for injection in a vial is: "Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis Amsparity in combination with methotrexate is indicated for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, in patients from the age of 2?years who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Amsparity can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to methotrexate or when continued treatment with methotrexate is inappropriate (for the?efficacyin monotherapy see section 5.1). Adalimumab has not been studied in patients aged less than 2?years. Enthesitis-related arthritis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of active enthesitis-related arthritis in patients, 6?years of age and older, who have had an inadequate response to, or who are intolerant of, conventional therapy (see section 5.1). Paediatric plaque psoriasis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents from 4?years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are inappropriate candidates for topical therapy and phototherapies. Paediatric Crohn?s disease Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn?s disease in paediatric patients (from 6?years of age) who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy including primary nutrition therapy and a corticosteroid and/or an immunomodulator, or who are intolerant to or have contraindications for such therapies. Adolescent hidradenitis suppurativa Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of active moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) (acne inversa) in adolescents from 12?years of age with an inadequate response to conventional systemic HS therapy (see sections?5.1?and 5.2). Paediatric uveitis Amsparity is indicated for the treatment of paediatric chronic non-infectious anterior uveitis in patients from 2 years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant to conventional therapy, or in whom conventional therapy is inappropriate." Amsparity treatment should be initiated and supervised by specialist physicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions for which Amsparity is indicated. Detailed recommendations for the use of this product will be described in the?summary of product characteristics?(SmPC), which will be published in the?European public assessment report?(EPAR) and made available in all official European Union languages after the?marketing authorisation?has been granted by the European Commission.