Janssen reports positive long-term Stelara trial data

Janssen has reported new long-term clinical trial data for Stelara that demonstrates its strong safety profile when used in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

Safety data has been pooled from a number of phase II and phase III studies involving 3,117 patients, which revealed a stable rate of adverse events among moderate to severe plaque psoriasis patients receiving up to four years of treatment.

Further analysis from four placebo-controlled phase III trials showed that the drug's efficacy and safety among patients of Japanese and Korean-Taiwanese descent is consistent with results seen among North American and European subjects.

Stelara was originally discovered and developed by Centocor Ortho Biotech and won the Prix Galien Canada Innovative Product Award in 2010.

Dr Kim Papp, dermatologist and study investigator, said: "These findings are important considerations for the dermatology community as well as our patients."

In March 2011, Janssen published study data for its schizophrenia drug Risperdal Consta, showing that the treatment is associated with a lower risk of hospitalisation than other antipsychotic therapies.