AstraZeneca and Amgen report positive psoriasis drug trial data

AstraZeneca and Amgen have announced positive results from their third and final pivotal phase III study of brodalumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Data from the AMAGINE-2 study showed that brodalumab 210 mg given every two weeks was superior to an established alternative on the primary endpoint of achieving total clearance of skin disease.

Moreover, when compared with placebo, a significantly greater proportion of patients treated with brodalumab achieved at least a 75 percent improvement from baseline in disease severity at week 12.

Findings from the three pivotal studies will form the basis for planned global regulatory filings that will take place in 2015.

Briggs Morrison, executive vice-president for global medicines development and chief medical officer at AstraZeneca, said: "These results confirm our belief that targeting the IL-17 receptor to inhibit inflammatory signaling can have significant benefit for psoriasis patients."

Earlier this week, the company received European Commission approval for Duaklir Genuair, its new chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) therapy.