J&J's guselkumab meets in Phase IIb psoriasis trial

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said all doses of subcutaneous guselkumab ( CNTO 1959) met the primary endpoint of a greater proportion of patients achieving a Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) score of "cleared" or "minimal" at week 16 vs. placebo in the Phase IIb X-PLORE trial to treat psoriasis. All doses of guselkumab also met the secondary endpoint of a greater proportion of patients achieving a PASI 75 response or greater at week 16 vs. placebo. The double-blind, international trial enrolled 293 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Data were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting in Denver.

This year, J&J plans to start Phase III testing with guselkumab to treat psoriasis. The product is a human HuCAL mAb targeting the p19 subunit of IL-23. This half, the pharma expects data from a Phase II trial evaluating guselkumab vs. J&J's Stelara ustekinumab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Stelara, a human mAb targeting the p40 subunit of IL-23 and IL-12, is approved in at least 74 countries, including the U.S., Canada and those in the EU, to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. ...