Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: scaram(o)uche who wrote (387)	3/23/2003 5:33:30 AM
From: sim1	Respond to of 631

Psoriasis treatment shows promise RAPTIVA EASES PAIN, SAY GENENTECH AND XOMA By Paul Jacobs Mercury News Posted on Sat, Mar. 22, 2003 Patients with psoriasis, a debilitating and sometimes life-threatening skin condition, showed significant improvement after weekly injections of an experimental drug from two Bay Area biotech companies, according to results released Friday. In the latest test of the drug Raptiva from Genentech and Xoma, 59 percent of patients receiving injections for three months saw their symptoms -- large patches of reddened flaky skin, itching and pain -- reduced by at least half. The results were presented in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. In contrast, only 14 percent of patients who received dummy shots or placebos showed a similar level of improvement in a chronic disease that waxes and wanes with the seasons, but remains incurable. There were 556 patients in the trial, two-thirds getting the drug and one-third the placebo. Results from patients using the drug for 15 months will be released today. Those results are expected to reaffirm earlier findings that, after a year, a commonly used index to measure the severity of the disease dropped by at least half in about 80 percent of patients. The patients in the long-term study had 10 to 90 percent of their skin covered by the raised, scaly patches that can make everyday living a torment. Genentech in South San Francisco and Xoma in Berkeley are hoping that these studies will help them win Food and Drug Administration approval to market Raptiva by the end of the year. Loyola University psoriasis expert Dr. Kenneth B. Gordon, who participated in studies of Raptiva and other new psoriasis drugs, said that compared to older treatments that have potentially serious side effects, ``I would chose Raptiva because of the safety.'' There are up to 7 million Americans with psoriasis. The 1 million or more with moderate to severe psoriasis often resort to drastic and expensive remedies that can cost more than $10,000 a year. Raptiva is one of a new generation of genetically engineered proteins that are providing alternatives to patients. In January, the FDA approved Amevive from Biogen. And a year ago, the agency permitted the marketing of Enbrelfrom Amgen for a related condition, psoriatic arthritis. But Amevive requires close monitoring by physicians to prevent depletion of white blood cells. And Enbrel, which is widely used in rheumatoid arthritis, now carries a label warning about the danger of serious infection and even death. Thus far, there have been no reports of such serious side effects with Raptiva. The new protein-based treatments, said Gail M. Zimmerman, chief executive of the National Psoriasis Foundation, represent ``the first new medical breakthroughs for psoriasis in many, many years.'' Genentech shares closed Friday at $35.27 a share, up 12 cents. Xoma closed at $3.82 a share, down 18 cents. Contact Paul Jacobs at pjacobs@mercurynews.com or (530) 756-0236.