RPT-Abbott, Eisai win Japan approval for arthritis drug

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TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) and Eisai Co Ltd (4523.T) said on Wednesday they had won approval from Japanese authorities to sell Abbott's blockbuster drug Humira to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The two companies will co-market the drug in Japan, which currently garners more than $3 billion in global annual sales for Abbott.

It will compete in Japan's $580 million market for arthritis of the joints, against Remicade, a Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) medicine marketed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp (4508.T). and against Enbrel, a Wyeth (WYE.N) drug that is marketed with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (4502.T).

The drugs work by blocking a naturally occurring protein called tumour necrosis factor that causes inflammation.

Between 600,000 to 700,000 people are estimated to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in Japan.

Abbott and Eisai have also sought approval in Japan for Humira to treat the skin disease psoriasis and are developing it for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis or chronic arthritis of the spine.

Humira has been approved in the United States and Europe to treat psoriasis and Crohn's disease, in addition to rheumatoid arthritis. (Reporting by Edwina Gibbs; Editing by Hugh Lawson)