Anacor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ANAC) announced today that it has completed enrollment in its Phase 2b trial of AN2728, a topical anti-inflammatory product candidate for the treatment of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects approximately 7.5 million people in the United States and over 100 million people worldwide. AN2728 is a boron-based small-molecule compound which inhibits the activity of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), thereby reducing the production of TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-23 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines that are the precursors of the inflammation associated with psoriasis.
“We are pleased with how quickly we have completed enrollment in this study, and we now expect to have AN2728 final Phase 2b data in psoriasis in mid-2011”
The Phase 2b trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AN2728 in patients with mild to moderate plaque-type psoriasis and is being conducted under anticipated Phase 3 conditions. This double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled trial has enrolled 68 patients with mild to moderate plaque-type psoriasis at ten centers in the United States. Patients have been randomized to 2% AN2728 topical ointment or vehicle in a 2:1 ratio and will apply the ointment twice daily for 12 weeks. Given its size, the trial is not designed to demonstrate statistical differentiation of AN2728 from vehicle, but to inform the size and design of the two planned pivotal Phase 3 trials for AN2728.
"We are pleased with how quickly we have completed enrollment in this study, and we now expect to have AN2728 final Phase 2b data in psoriasis in mid-2011," said David Perry, Chief Executive Officer of Anacor Pharmaceuticals. "We believe the speed at which we completed enrollment in this study reflects both the prevalence of the disease and the demand for a novel, safe and effective topical therapy."
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