New York, Feb 3, 2026, 15:46 ET — Regular session
- AbbVie shares have gained roughly 0.8% in afternoon trading ahead of Wednesday’s earnings release
- Company has filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency to extend Rinvoq’s use to non-segmental vitiligo
- Attention shifts to the 2026 outlook and if the latest immunology drugs can continue to counterbalance Humira’s decline
AbbVie shares climbed Tuesday afternoon, despite cautious trading ahead of the drugmaker’s quarterly earnings report set for Wednesday before the U.S. open. By 3:46 p.m. ET, the stock gained $1.91, roughly 0.8%, to $227.55, after hitting an intraday high of $228.66.
Timing is crucial. AbbVie’s latest results stand out this week as a key test of whether its newer immunology drugs can offset the decline in Humira sales caused by biosimilar rivals—a factor that has shaped the stock story for the past year.
The move stood out amid a sluggish day for defensives. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund dropped nearly 0.9%, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust edged down about 1% during that period.
AbbVie announced Tuesday that it has filed for approval with U.S. and European regulators to expand the label of upadacitinib, marketed as Rinvoq, for adults and adolescents with non-segmental vitiligo. The submission relies on data from Phase 3 Viti-Up trials. If cleared, Rinvoq would be the first systemic treatment for this chronic autoimmune condition. The company noted that non-segmental vitiligo accounts for roughly 84% of all vitiligo cases. “Many patients experience ongoing frustration due to the unpredictability of non-segmental vitiligo spread,” said Kori Wallace, AbbVie’s VP and global head of immunology clinical development. AbbVie News Center
Rinvoq, a JAK inhibitor pill that blocks enzymes tied to immune signaling, has been a key growth driver for AbbVie, alongside Skyrizi. The new vitiligo filing offers another potential boost, but investors probably won’t fully factor it in until there’s clearer info on launch timing and market adoption.
Most of the near-term action wraps up by Wednesday morning. Investors are focused on sales updates for Skyrizi and Rinvoq, tracking how quickly Humira’s sales are slipping, and looking for any revisions to the company’s 2026 forecast.
Big pharma saw a split on Tuesday: Johnson & Johnson rose roughly 1.6%, but Pfizer dropped around 3.5%, and Amgen slipped 0.9%.
But bulls face two potential pitfalls. Rinvoq belongs to a drug class already under scrutiny by regulators for safety, and any stricter warnings or reduced indications could hit long-term forecasts hard. On top of that, earnings guidance might serve as a catalyst for a drop if investors conclude the growth runway isn’t as long as anticipated.
AbbVie will release its full-year and Q4 2025 earnings before U.S. markets open Wednesday, followed by a webcasted call at 8 a.m. Central. Investors will focus on the 2026 outlook and how management addresses demand trends in its newer immunology lineup post-vitiligo filing.
Related articles: Pharmaceutical Industry
