Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said on Thursday that a late-stage trial showed its experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis drug abatacept slowed the progression of joint damage in patients with the disease.

The results come from additional analysis of phase III trial data that were released last October showing the drug met the main goal of the trial, which was to improve the signs and symptoms of the disease in patients who had failed certain other therapies.

The latest results, which showed a significant inhibition of joint damage, were presented at a conference in Europe. If approved, analysts expect the drug to generate sales of $500 million to more than $1 billion.

Abatacept could be the first in a new class of drugs known as T-cell co-stimulation modulators, which slow the body’s response to inflammation.