Cyclosporine is a powerful immune suppressant that is very effective in treating serious psoriasis, but its side-effects (most commonly, kidney damage, and the increased potential for cancers), limits its use in psoriasis to relatively short bursts of time (generally no more than 1-2 years). Cyclosporine is a type of immune suppressant called a calcineurin inhibitor.
In recent years, a Canadian company called Isotechnika has been developing a calcineurin inhibitor called voclosporin, which it hopes will offer effectiveness like cyclosporine but be safer for long-term use. Recently, the company announced the results of a (Europe- and Canada-based) Phase 3 trial of voclosporin for moderate to severe psoriasis, and the results were mixed.
Voclosporin did prove to be effective in treating psoriasis. The study found that more than 40% of patients at both 12 weeks and 60 weeks had achieved a 75% improvement in their psoriasis symptoms. And the study found voclosporin to have improved safety over cyclosporine at weeks 24 and 60. But the study also found cyclosporine significantly more effective than voclosporin in treating psoriasis.
Dr. Robert Foster, President & CEO of Isotechnika, was quoted in the news release saying “we are pleased with the risk-benefit of voclosporin and consider it a valuable treatment option.” Isotechnika has forged a partnership with Canada-based Paladin Labs Inc. to seek, by the end of 2009, regulatory approval to market the drug in Canada (but not yet the United States or Europe). Voclosporin was formerly known as ISA247.
Category: Psoriasis Research, Treatment
