FDA Approves XELJANZ XR — Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc

On February 23, 2016, the FDA granted approval to Pfizer's oral TOFACITINIB CITRATE for XELJANZ XR, marking a strategic expansion of the rheumatoid arthritis market with a sustained-release formulation designed to improve patient adherence. This post-2016 approval is expected to strengthen Pfizer's portfolio by providing a differentiated, long-acting therapy capable of competing against established remission-inducing drugs and mitigating patient attrition rates.