UPDATE 1-UCB seeks go-ahead for Cimzia on arthritis

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BRUSSELS, July 1 (Reuters) - Belgian pharmaceutical group UCB (UCB.BR) said on Tuesday it had filed with European authorities for approval of its Cimzia drug as a treatment for adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

It said in a statement the treatment had been accepted for review.

The filing comes two weeks after the publication of new data indicating that Cimzia stops structural damage to joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as soon as 16 weeks after the start of treatment.

UCB is looking to Cimzia to replace sales of older products lost to generics. The European filing follows an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February for the treatment of adults with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Cimzia has also been approved as a treatment for Crohn's disease, a bowel disorder, in the United States in April but the arthritis market -- where approval has yet to be granted -- represents a bigger commercial opportunity.

Cimzia belongs to a class of drugs that block an inflammatory protein called tumour necrosis factor, or TNF.

The first TNF blockers were launched nearly 10 years ago and Cimzia will be fourth to market as an arthritis treatment, behind Amgen's (AMGN.O) Enbrel, Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) Remicade and Abbott Laboratories' (ABT.N) Humira. (Editing by Quentin Bryar)