Clinical trial results of topical INCB18424 inhibitor announced by Incyte Corporation

Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq:INCY) announced positive clinical trial results for a topical formulation of its lead janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, INCB18424, in psoriasis. These results were obtained from a multi-center three-month Phase IIb trial comparing three once-daily doses of topical INCB18424 to vehicle in 200 patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis. In the trial patients treated with INCB18424 had a statistically significant improvement over placebo in the reduction in total lesion score (erythema + scaling + thickness), which was the primary efficacy endpoint of the trial. Statistical significance was also achieved for the secondary endpoints: the Physician Global Assessment score and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score. INCB18424 was well tolerated at all doses and no clinically significant effects were noted in hematology or other laboratory parameters.

Paul Friedman, M.D., Incyte's President and CEO, will review these top-line clinical trial results during his corporate presentation at 12:00 pm (ET) today at the 2009 UBS Global Life Sciences Conference.

Dr. Friedman stated, “Our JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor was designed to block signaling from multiple key cytokines implicated in psoriasis and it is gratifying to see that topical INCB18424 met the primary and secondary endpoints in this three-month Phase IIb trial. We believe the positive safety and efficacy results achieved with this new mechanism of action have the potential to differentiate topical INCB18424 from the topical corticosteroids and vitamin D analogues which are limited by their duration of use and/or their tolerability profile.”

Incyte intends to present full results from this Phase IIb trial at an appropriate future scientific meeting.

To access today’s presentation at the UBS conference, please go to www.incyte.com under Investor Relations, Events and Webcasts. Investors interested in listening to the live webcast should log on before the start time in order to download any software required. A replay of the presentation will also be available.

Source: Incyte Corporation