AbbVie Scores Canadian Reimbursement Recommendations For Blockbuster Ulcerative Colitis Drug Skyrizi

<p>On Friday, <strong>AbbVie Inc</strong>. <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ABBV" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ABBV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ABBV">ABBV</a>)</a> announced two updates for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ulcerative colitis patients in Canada</a>.</p>



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<p>Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease affecting the large intestine, causing persistent inflammation and ulceration of the colon&#8217;s lining. Common symptoms include frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding.</p>



<p>Skyrizi (risankizumab), an IL-23 inhibitor, received two consecutive positive reimbursement recommendations by Canada&#8217;s Drug Agency for inflammatory bowel diseases, initially for Crohn&#8217;s disease and now for ulcerative colitis, supported by evidence from pivotal phase 3 clinical trials including MOTIVATE, ADVANCE, FORTIFY (for Crohn&#8217;s disease), and INSPIRE, COMMAND (for ulcerative colitis).</p>



<p><strong><em>Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/10/48045920/abbvies-botox-shows-improvement-in-movement-disorder-study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AbbVie&#8217;s Botox Shows Improvement In Movement Disorder Study</a></em></strong></p>



<p>Canada&#8217;s Drug Agency has recommended Skyrizi (risankizumab) to be reimbursed with conditions by public drug plans for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have had an inadequate response, loss of response, or were intolerant to conventional therapy, a biologic treatment, or a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor if certain <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/11/g49111887/skyrizi-risankizumab-receives-positive-reimbursement-recommendation-by-canadas-drug-agency-for-ulc" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions are met</a>.</p>



<p>The recommendation was informed by feedback from 25 Canadian clinicians and two patient organizations.</p>



<p>AbbVie has also completed negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) regarding SKYRIZI for ulcerative colitis, and a Letter of Intent (LOI) has been signed by both parties.</p>



<p>In the third quarter of 2025, Skyrizi sales increased <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/10/48564942/abbvie-raises-2025-outlook-helped-by-strong-immunology-growth-boost-dividend" rel="noreferrer noopener">46.8% year over year to $4.71 billion</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy AbbVie Stock</h2>



<p>Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share &#8211; or fractional share &#8211; of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument. </p>



<p>For example, in AbbVie's case, it is in the Health Care sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.</p>



<p><strong>ABBV Price Action:</strong> AbbVie shares were down 0.35% at $226.87 at the time of publication on Friday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Benzinga Pro data</a>.</p>



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<p><em>Photo via Shutterstock</em></p>