Johnson & Johnson’s arthritis drug shows promising results in Phase III trial
pharmafile | March 16, 2021 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, PSA, Tremfya, arthritis
Johnson & Johnson’s TREMFYA treatment for active Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) has returned positive results in its Phase III trial.
The randomised study, which evaluated 739 adult patients with PsA who had used the therapy after 100 weeks, showed that 59% of those receiving TREMFYA every four weeks, and 53% of those receiving the drug every eight weeks, achieved complete skin clearance.
These data mark the first and only long-term Phase III study results for a selective interleukin (IL)-23 inhibitor therapy in PsA, which includes impact on radiographic progression through two years.
Patients who received TREMFYA every four weeks demonstrated statistically significant inhibition of radiographic progression of joint structural damage.
The results offered further positive news, with 76% and 74% of those receiving a dose at four and eight weeks respectively also achieving at least a 20% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR 20) response criteriai.
PsA is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterised by peripheral joint inflammation, enthesitis, dactylitis, axial disease, and skin lesions. Nearly half of patients with PsA experience moderate fatigue and about 30% suffer from severe fatigue. The exact cause is unknown.
Dr Alyssa Johnsen PhD, Vice President and Rheumatology Disease Area Leader of Janssen Research & Development, said: “PsA is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, joints, and soft tissue and therefore, sustained control of this inflammation is important to physicians and patients.
“These long-term study results further bolster our confidence in the ability of TREMFYA to significantly improve the diverse manifestations of PsA over time.”
Dr Philip J Mease, of the Swedish Medical Center/Providence St. Joseph Health and the University of Washington in Seattle, added: ”PsA can be a chronically painful and debilitating disease, and many PsA patients are still searching for enduring relief of their symptoms.
“These data, which show that the observed benefits of TREMFYA in PsA continue through two years, represent positive news for physicians and patients alike.”
Jack Goddard
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