Remicade trial reconfirms effectiveness against psoriasis

A new Phase III trial in the UK has demonstrated again that Schering-Plough's Remicade can be very effective against moderate-to-severe psoriasis. In one indice, 80 percent of patients had a 75 percent improvement in psoriasis, compared to 1 percent of patients taking a placebo. One-in-four patients had a complete clearing of the skin. Remicade is currently approved for Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The data will help Johnson & Johnson make its case that Remicade's label should be expanded to include psoriasis.

"There is a significant number of patients with difficult to treat, high-need psoriasis for whom Remicade represents a significant therapeutic advance," said Jonathan Barker, Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Kings College Medical School.

- read this report from Forbes for more