Higher doses of BMS's psoriasis candidate hit Phase II efficacy mark

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) said four of five doses of BMS-986165 met the primary endpoint in the Phase II IM011-011 trial to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The compound, an oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, is in a pair of Phase III trials in the indication.

IM011-011 enrolled 267 patients to receive placebo or one of five doses of BMS-986165. On the primary endpoint, BMS-986165 led to a significantly greater Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response rate at week 12 at the 3 mg daily (39%, p<0.001), 3 mg twice daily (69%, p<0.001), 6 mg twice daily (67%, p<0.001) and 12 mg daily (75%, p<0.001) doses compared with placebo (7%). The lowest dose of BMS-986165 -- 3 mg given every other day -- missed the endpoint (9%, p=0.49)...