Antibody therapy for psoriasis
interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody in psoriasis.
The results of a Phase II clinical trial, published in the January 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis experienced significant clearance of the skin disease, improving their quality of life, after receiving subcutaneous injections of Centocor's CNTO 1275 antibody.
Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease that effects around 6m people in the US alone. The condition results from inflammation in the skin and overproduction of skin cells that accumulate on the surface causing red, scaly plaques that itch and bleed.
Psoriasis that is resistant to topical therapies, phototherapy and photochemotherapy can be treated by a number of systemic treatments. The three main traditional systemic treatments are the immunosupressant drugs, methotrexate and ciclosporin, and retinoids, synthetic forms of vitamin A. Patients on these medications are required to have regular blood and liver function tests because of the toxicity of the medication.
The naturally occurring proteins interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) are important in regulating the immune system and play a key role in the development of psoriasis by stimulating the immune responses of Type 1 helper T-cells. Preclinical studies have suggested that blocking IL-12 and IL-23 may therapeutically benefit psoriasis patients
Centocor have developed a fully human monoclonal antibody, CNTO 1275, for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, which targets IL-12 and IL-23. CNTO 1275 has been shown to effectively block the interaction of IL-12 and IL-23 with the surface of immune cells.
According to Gerald Kreuger, MD, lead author of the study from University of Utah, Salt Lake City: "Research findings continue to provide a deeper understanding into the clinical pathway of psoriasis, which we hope will lead to the development of additional therapies, like CNTO 1275, and broaden the range of treatments available to physicians and patients."
"At week 12 in this investigational study, the majority of patients treated with CNTO 1275, regardless of dosing, experienced significant skin clearance and sustained improvements in physical, emotional and social well being."
