Those suffering from psoriatic arthritis will welcome the news that a new drug - brodalumab - is capable of improving their condition. The drug has been developed by Amgen Inc. and a new Phase 2 study advocates its effectiveness
For the uninitiated, psoriatic arthritis affects nearly 30 percent individuals who suffer from psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis results in inflammation and per the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), it also causes red and white patches on the skin. Continuous inflammation due to psoriatic arthritis can be detrimental as it often leads to the joints being harmed.
Brodalumab, the antibody, targets the interleukin-17 receptor A (IL17RA) in a bid to combat psoriatic arthritis signs and symptoms. The Phase 2 study, funded by Amgen, assessed the impact of brodalumab in 168 patients aged between 18 to 70 years who suffered from the condition for a period of 52 weeks.
"Given our understanding of the role of the IL-17 receptor, we have developed a robust clinical program for brodalumab across the spectrum of inflammatory disease, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and asthma," says Sean E. Harper, M.D., EVP of Research and Development at Amgen. "These encouraging psoriatic arthritis data showing that patients not only experienced improvements in clinical symptoms at week 12, but that those improvements continued over time and were sustained, were the basis for our decision to continue development of this molecule as a potential treatment for the many people who are looking to better control their disease."
Per the Phase 2 study, led by rheumatologist Dr. Phillip Mease of Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, brodalumab was effective as several patients showed a marked improvement in their skin. Moreover, the swelling in the toes and fingers subsided considerably post the administration of the drug.
"We're encouraged that treatment with brodalumab significantly reduced clinical signs and joint symptoms, compared to placebo, and that similar degrees of disease improvement were seen in biologic-treated and biologic-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis," reveals Mease. "These results add to the growing body of evidence indicating that the IL-17 receptor is a promising target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including psoriatic arthritis."
The results of the study have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, June 12.
Two Phase 3 studies (AMVISION-1 and AMVISION-2) have been initiated by Amgen and AstraZeneca, which will persevere to delve into the effectiveness of brodalumab in successfully improving the symptoms and signs of psoriatic arthritis and preventing joint damage.
