Abbott looking beyond anti-TNF agents for psoriasis
This article was originally published in Pharmaceutical Approvals Monthly
Executive Summary
Abbott plans to initiate a Phase III study of its fully human monoclonal antibody ABT-874 for psoriasis later this year, pending FDA feedback, the firm announces May 4. Targeting interleukin-12 and interleukin-23, the biologic could potentially be a first-in-class treatment for psoriasis. A previous 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study enrolled 180 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Results showed that ABT-874 was significantly more effective than placebo, with 90 percent of patients achieving 75 percent improvement in the degree and severity of skin lesions in four of the five active treatment groups. Abbott's tumor necrosis factor inhibitor Humira (adalimumab) is pending at FDA for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis (1Pharmaceutical Approvals Monthly April 2007, In Brief)...