Janssen's guselkumab more effective than Humira in psoriasis study

Greater efficacy in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis than AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) big-selling Humira (adalimumab) was just one of the findings in data presented on guselkumab, an anti-interleukin-23 monoclonal antibody, by Janssen on Saturday.

The company, which is a subsidiary of US health care giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), announced the findings from the first of three pivotal Phase III studies evaluating guselkumab at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV).

Data from the VOYAGE 1 trial showed that significantly higher proportions of patients receiving guselkumab achieved cleared or minimal disease compared with patients receiving placebo, as defined by at least a 90% improvement in the psoriasis area severity index and an investigator’s global assessment score at week 16, the study co-primary endpoints.