AstraZeneca and Amgen report positive psoriasis drug data

AstraZeneca and Amgen have announced clinical trial data that underlines the benefits of their developmental therapy for plaque psoriasis.

Results from the AMAGINE-1 trial revealed that brodalumab, a novel investigational IL-17 receptor antibody, was able to meet all of its primary and secondary endpoints, thus demonstrating its safety and efficacy.

Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who were treated with the medicine saw significant improvements in disease severity compared to placebo, while its safety performance fell within acceptable parameters.

Two further trials in the AMAGINE trial programme are yet to be completed and will compare the performance of brodalumab with another psoriasis drug, ustekinumab.

Briggs Morrison, executive vice-president of global medicines development at AstraZeneca, said: "We are encouraged by brodalumab's emerging profile and look forward to presenting the full data in the appropriate scientific forum."

This comes after the firm commenced a phase III trial of MEDI4736, an immunotherapy option for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, earlier this month.