On November 25, 2014 Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN) announced positive results in a phase 3 study dealing with patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The phase 3 trial was known as the AMAGINE-2 trial and was evaluating the experimental drug brodalumab against Stelara and a placebo drug. The trial showed that Amgen and AstraZeneca’s drug brodalumab achieved its primary endpoint in skin clearance in a 12-week period. Brodalumab was able to achieve this type of efficacy far superior to both Stelara and the placebo within a 12-week period. Stelara is a psoriasis drug marketed by Janssen Biotech a sub-division of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). 

The maximum dosage given to patients in the AMAGINE-2 trial was 210mg of brodalumab, given once every 2-weeks. These patients in brodalumab group of 210 mg, saw at least 45% achieving skin clearance according to the Psoriasis Area Severity Index – PASI. This compares to 21.7% in the Stelara group and only 0.6% in the placebo group. The brodalumab is the only experimental drug that targets IL-17 which is responsible for blocking signals to prevent skin inflammation. IL-17 is a target for brodalumab but other drugs like Stelara mentioned above target other types of cytokines. 

We believe that Amgen and AstraZeneca have obtained superior results for their drug brodalumab compared to Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara. Amgen stands to make more from the deal compared to AstraZeneca as it has obtained the full U.S. commercial rights for brodalumab. Still both companies will share on the revenue and brodalumab is expected to make between $500 million and $1.5 billion dollars in the market place. Amgen has been doing quite well lately in drug trials and these amazing results from the AMAGINE-2 trial collaboration with AstraZeneca has paid off well. Now it is up to both companies to file an NDA once they meet with the FDA and get brodalumab approved for these psoriasis patients.