Briakinumab, an experimental psoriasis treatment from Abbott (the folks who bring us Humira [adalimumab]), continues to rack up favorable results in clinical trials. Most recently, it beat the market-leading biologic treatment Enbrel [etanercept] and of course a placebo (i.e., a fake treatment) in a 12-week test. This follows its amazing Phase Two trial results.
The buzz about briakinumab is that if these results hold and no new safety concerns emerge, it could become a major blockbuster once it reaches the market, which is expected to occur in 2011 or 2012.
Briakinumab (formerly known as ABT-874), like Stelara [ustekinumab], targets proteins in the body called IL-12 and IL-23, which seem to be involved in plaque psoriasis, among other things. Inhibiting these proteins improves psoriasis symptoms in most patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. But these new IL-12/23 inhibitors have only been used in several thousand patients for a few years at most, while Enbrel and the other biologics in its class (TNF-alpha inhibitors), have been used in more than 1 million patients in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and other diseases. Some RA patients have used Enbrel continuously for more than 10 years, and some psoriasis patients are not far behind that. So we know a lot more about the long-term results (in terms of both safety and effectiveness) of Enbrel, Humira and Remicade [infliximab] than we do about Stelara and briakinumab.
Still, the results are exciting. For those losing hope, knowing that briakinumab could reach us in a year or two is cause for keeping the faith. Learn more about briakinumab here.
Category: Biologics, Psoriasis Research, Treatment
Tags: ABT-874, Briakinumab, Enbrel, IL-12, IL-23
I have been on the ABT-874 clinical trials for nearly three years. After having had severe plaque psoriasis for nearly 60 (yes, sixty) years, I am 100% free of the disease. I have had absolutely no side effects. BUT – I was notified two days ago on July 26, 2011 by the clinical trial center that Abbott Laboratories terminated the trials and will not apply in the U.S. for FDA approval. As one physician friend told me – if a manufacturer would apply today for approval of aspirin, he would be quite certainly refused.