AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:NBIX) have disclosed the results of the phase 2b trial that was investigating the safety and efficacy of elagolix when it was used as a combination therapy with norethindrone or estradiol or alone. The results show that regardless of whether elagolix was used alone or as a combination therapy, it reached the endpoint with regards to the primary efficacy which was reducing heavy menstrual bleeding when compared to a placebo. The results were initially announced at the third SEUD that was held in Singapore. SEUD is an acronym for Congress of the Society of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders.

“The positive results from this clinical trial represent a significant milestone in the development of elagolix,” AbbVie’s chief medical officer and Vice President, Rob Scott, said.

Reduced severity

In the phase 2b study, elagolix was found to reduce the number of days in which women experienced heavy bleeding in comparison to placebo. The hemoglobin concentration of the participants who also took elagolix also increased by the sixth month in comparison with the case in the women who were taking a placebo. When treatment using elagolix went uninterrupted, the severity of the symptoms reduced and there was an improvement in the quality of life.

The Phase 2b study was carried out in a span of 24 weeks and there were 567 premenopausal women who took part in the multi-country trial. The age of the participants was between 18 and 51.

Uterine fibroids

In the pelvis of a woman, the most prevalent kind of abnormal growth are uterine fibroids as they affect approximately between 20% to 80% of woman by the time they are 50. African American women stand higher chances of experiencing fibroids. They are also likely to get fibroids when they are younger.

While fibroids do not show symptoms at times, when they do the symptoms include painful periods, anemia and heavy menstrual bleeding. Vaginal bleeding is also present in some of the cases. In the U.S., uterine fibroids are hysterectomy’s leading indication.

In Friday’s trading session shares of AbbVie Inc edged up marginally by 0.71% to close the day at $65.54.