AbbVie lifts profit forecast as immunology drugs continue to fuel growth

Oct 30 (Reuters) AbbVie raised its annual profit forecast after topping Wall Street expectations for the third quarter on Friday, as booming sales of newer immunology drugs ​made up for the decline in former top-selling treatment ‌Humira. AbbVie s immunology franchise, led by Skyrizi and Rinvoq, is doing the heavy lifting for the drugmaker to fill the void left by its former marquee drug Humira, after the arthritis treatment lost US patent exclusivity in ‌2023. Skyrizi, ​indicated for skin and gastrointestinal conditions, recorded ⁠sales of $5.78 billion for ⁠the quarter, growing 22.7% from a year earlier and beating Wall Street estimates of $5.75 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Rinvoq, which is used to treat a range of inflammatory ​joint, skin and gastrointestinal conditions, generated $2.71 billion in revenue, up nearly 24% year over year. AbbVie is leaning on acquisitions ⁠to extend its growth runway beyond ⁠Humira and help offset future patent expirations. Its $10.9