>>2nd UPDATE: J&J Reports Positive Results For Psoriasis Drug
Last update: 10/3/2007 3:00:57 PM
(Updated to add details throughout; updates stock price.)
By Peter Loftus
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
An experimental Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) drug substantially reduced the severity of the inflammatory skin disorder psoriasis, according to a new study.
J&J is developing ustekinumab, also known as CNTO 1275, as part of a new category of drugs that targets proteins known as interleukins. In addition to psoriasis, J&J is studying the compound's potential to treat Crohn's disease, a gastrointestinal ailment.
Analysts view ustekinumab as a potential supplement to J&J's existing anti-inflammatory drug Remicade. Morgan Stanley has estimated that combined sales of Remicade, ustekinumab and a related experimental drug could exceed $5 billion in 2011. J&J's 2006 Remicade sales were $3 billion.
J&J has said it expects to file for regulatory approval of ustekinumab as a psoriasis treatment by the end of this year.
Existing treatments for psoriasis include biologic drugs such as Amgen Inc.'s (AMGN) Enbrel and J&J's Remicade. Abbott Laboratories (ABT) has applied for regulatory approval of its Humira anti-inflammatory drug as a treatment for psoriasis. They are part of a category known as anti-TNFs, and some are also approved to treat other diseases including inflammatory-bowel diseases.
In a study of about 1,230 patients, more than two-thirds of those taking ustekinumab achieved at least a 75% reduction in psoriasis at week 12 of treatment. Among those taking fake medication, or placebo, only 4% achieved the 75% reduction. The data were presented Wednesday at the World Congress of Dermatology in Buenos Aires.
"That brings new hope to a wide variety of patients who may be underserved by current therapies," Craig Leonardi, a researcher from St. Louis University Medical School, said Wednesday at a press conference that was shown live on the Internet.
Ustekinumab is a self-injectable biologic that can be given less frequently than Enbrel. Remicade is given as a two-hour intravenous infusion at a doctor's office.
In the study, similar rates of adverse events were reported for the drug and placebo groups. Adverse events included injection-site irritation.
Abbott is developing its own experimental drug, ABT-874, that targets the same proteins as the J&J compound. On Monday, Abbott said a mid-stage study of ABT-874 showed that a majority of patients who initially responded to treatment maintained a high level of response following discontinuation of therapy.
J&J shares rose 3 cents to $66.08 Wednesday afternoon.
-By Peter Loftus, Dow Jones Newswires; +1-215-656-8289; peter.loftus@dowjones.com <<
Cheers, Tuck |
