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Biotech / Medical : Indications -- Psoriasis/Chronic Inflammation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scaram(o)uche who wrote (98)	8/20/2001 4:46:15 PM
From: keokalani'nui	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 631

Enbrel. IMNX. Patients With Severe Plaque Psoriasis Show Continued Improvement Over Six Months of Therapy SEATTLE, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Immunex Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNX) today announced positive preliminary results from its first clinical study of ENBREL(R) (etanercept) in psoriasis. In this phase 2 clinical study, 112 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were randomized evenly to receive 25 mg of ENBREL or placebo twice a week for six months. The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients achieving a 75 percent improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) after 12 weeks. Patients treated with ENBREL in this study experienced significant improvement compared to those on placebo, with 30 percent of patients on ENBREL achieving PASI 75 compared to 2 percent of those on placebo. Importantly, patients on ENBREL in this study continued to improve over time. After six months of treatment, approximately half of the patients receiving ENBREL achieved an improvement of 75 percent or better in the PASI score, compared to 5 percent improvement for patients on placebo. In addition, approximately 20 percent of patients receiving ENBREL for six months improved by 90 percent or better, and no patients in the placebo group achieved that level of response. ENBREL was generally well tolerated in this study. Side effects seen more frequently within the first 12 weeks of the study in patients receiving ENBREL included mild infections (46 percent compared to 24 percent of placebo patients). The majority of infections were upper respiratory infections similar to colds. Complete results of the study are expected to be presented at a scientific meeting early next year. "Patients in this study had lesions covering a third of their bodies on average, and ENBREL provided significant relief," said Dan Burge, MD, vice president for clinical research at Immunex. "We are very encouraged by the outcome of this study and are embarking on a comprehensive clinical program to study ENBREL in psoriasis." This phase 2 study was designed to investigate the safety of and response to ENBREL in psoriasis, following promising clinical results in patients with psoriatic arthritis, a related condition. The data in psoriatic arthritis have been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for review. _________________