Psoriasis Advance
News From the World Congress of Dermatology: The next generation of biologics

Reprinted from Psoriasis Advance, our Member magazine Join the Foundation today to access more in-depth news on treatments and research

CNTO 1275 phase III results
Centocor, Inc., announced in early October that its experimental biologic drug, CNTO 1275, showed positive results from its phase III clinical study testing the drug’s effectiveness in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Study findings showed that more than two-thirds of patients who received two doses of CNTO 1275 (ustekinumab) achieved a 75 percent or greater reduction in psoriasis at week 12, as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), a psoriasis severity score. Findings also showed that following one additional dose at week 16, a substantial proportion of patients receiving ustekinumab maintained 75 percent improvement through week 28. The biologic was administered to patients as a subcutaneous injection.

Data from the study were presented at the 21st meeting of the World Congress of Dermatology, held Sept. 30-Oct. 5, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ustekinumab (u-sti-KIN-u-mab) is a new type of biologic that works in a different way from current biologics. It targets interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interleukin 23 (IL-23)—proteins in the body that are important in immune system function, and which are believed to play a role in immunemediated inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis. Centocor plans to submit CNTO 1275 for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval before the end of the year.

ABT-874 phase II findings
Also reported at the World Congress were findings from a phase II follow-up study evaluating the effectiveness of Abbott’s investigational anti-IL-12/23 antibody ABT-874 in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. The results showed that a majority of patients who initially responded to treatment maintained improvement after discontinuing the therapy.

In the study, patients who achieved at least 75 percent improvement in psoriasis signs and symptoms (PASI 75) at 12 weeks stopped receiving ABT-874. At 24 weeks, more than two-thirds of these patients maintained at least 50 percent improvement (PASI 50). ABT-874 is administered as an injection.

Phase II results presented earlier this year at the Society for Investigative Dermatology meeting showed ABT-874 reduced psoriasis symptoms in the majority of patients treated. ABT-874 will enter phase III trials this year.