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J&J Experimental Drug Effective in Psoriasis

by Rajshri on May 17 2008 3:44 PM

An experimental drug called ustekinumab made by Johnson & Johnson has proved safe and effective in prevent psoriasis progression for one year or more in two trials.

The first study involved 1, 766 patients and lasted for 76 weeks. Each patient was given either 45-milligram or 90-milligram injections of the drug at the start of the trial and again on week 4 and then one dose every 12 weeks. Another group received a placebo injection.

"Onset of efficacy was rapid, with higher proportions of ustekinumab-treated patients achieving at least 50 percent improvement" researchers said.

In the second trial 1,230 patients were tested for 52 weeks. In 28 weeks, researchers found that 23 percent of patients in the low-dose drug group and 16 percent in the high-dose group had a 75 percent reduction in symptoms.

Both studies appear in The Lancet.

Source-Medindia
RAS/L


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