UCB phase 2 study of Cimzia in psoriasis meets primary endpoints

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., July 18 - UCB said its phase 2 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol, CDP870) met its co-primary endpoints with a high degree of statistical significance, including the proportion of patients achieving a 75% decrease from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score following treatment at week 12.

CDP870 is an antitumor necrosis factor therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis.

In the double-blind, dose-ranging study, 176 patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis were randomized to receive either the liquid formulation of Cimzia 400 mg every other week or an initial dose of Cimzia 400 mg followed by a dose of Cimzia 200 mg given every other week; or a placebo.

"These initial results in psoriasis suggest that certolizumab pegol has the potential to become a highly effective and well-tolerated addition to the biologic treatment options currently available for this difficult-to-treat disease," lead investigator Jean-Paul Ortonne said in a company news release.

"We look forward to the results from further clinical trials confirming these initial findings."

A 24-week follow-up period and retreatment study are in progress.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease of scaling and inflammation affecting about 125 million people worldwide.

Based in Brussels, Belgium, UCB develops products for central nervous system disorders, allergy/respiratory diseases, immune and inflammatory disorders and oncology.

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