Phase II psoriasis study shows efficacy of Boehringer Ingelheim's BI 655066 over ustekinumab

New results from a Phase II head-to-head psoriasis study showed superior efficacy of Boehringer Ingelheim's investigational biologic compound BI 655066, over ustekinumab. After nine months, 69 percent of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis maintained clear or almost clear skin (PASI 90) with BI 655066 in the higher dose group compared to 30 percent of patients on ustekinumab. Patients also achieved this skin clearance significantly faster (approximately eight weeks versus approximately 16 weeks) and for more than two months longer (≥ 32 weeks versus 24 weeks) than those on ustekinumab. In addition, completely clear skin (PASI 100) was maintained after nine months in nearly triple the percentage of patients on BI 655066 compared with ustekinumab (43 percent versus 15 percent).

"These results are striking. They further strengthen our understanding of the potential skin improvement that can be achieved with BI 655066, in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. We saw a third more patients achieve clearer skin in a short time period. And this clearance was maintained longer compared to the commonly used treatment ustekinumab," commented Kim A. Papp, MD, PhD, President of Probity Medical Research, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. "Achieving clear skin quickly and maintaining clearance is an important goal for patients that have to deal with the daily impact of psoriasis."

These meaningful 24-week findings from a Phase II study in psoriasis were presented today in an oral presentation by Dr. Kim A. Papp at the 24th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) congress in Copenhagen.

The study (NCT02054481) investigated the efficacy and safety of BI 655066 versus ustekinumab in 166 patients. These data build on Phase II data presented earlier this year at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Primary endpoint results showed nearly double the percentage of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis achieved clear or almost clear skin (PASI 90) after 12 weeks of treatment with BI 655066, compared to ustekinumab (77.1 percent versus 40 percent of patients). The new data further demonstrate that BI 655066 has similar safety and tolerability to ustekinumab, regardless of dose, with no serious drug-related side-effects. The most common side effects were runny nose, sore throat, and headache.

"The results are an exciting milestone in Boehringer Ingelheim's growing immunology pipeline. These Phase II study results represent a major step towards our vision of transforming the treatment of immune diseases and the patients affected by it," said Dr. Steven Padula, Therapeutic Area Head Medicine Immunology at Boehringer Ingelheim. "We look forward to continued research and are currently planning multiple Phase III studies."