Remicade Promising in Psoriatic Arthritis

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Remicade Promising in Psoriatic Arthritis

NEW YORK (Reuters) Jun 10 - Remicade (infliximab) alleviates symptoms of

both arthritis and psoriasis in patients with psoriatic arthritis, according

to data presented at a conference in Europe and released by the drug's

developers.

Remicade is already sold by and in the United States as a

treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Now the company is testing it in

psoriatic arthritis.

Data from a phase III trial known as Impact 2 showed a 70% alleviation of

symptoms of arthritis in nearly one third of patients taking Remicade

compared with a 2% improvement in patients taking placebo.

In patients with psoriasis that covered 3% or more of their body surface,

40% saw a 90% improvement while 21% saw an improvement of 100%. The results

were statistically significant.

J & J's Centocor unit plans to submit a supplemental application to the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration later this year to request approval for the new

use.

The results were presented at the European League Against Rheumatism, the

Annual European Congress of Rheumatology and the International Psoriasis

Symposium.

In March, Genentech Inc. and Xoma Ltd. said their psoriasis drug Raptiva

(efalizumab) failed to show significant benefit in treating psoriatic

arthritis.