Abbott: Phase 2 trials positive for psoriasis drug

Abbott Park, Ill. - Abbott Laboratories' clinical testing of its ABT-874 experimental injectable drug shows the drug to be effective in treating psoriasis, Bloomberg News reports.

Abbott says phase 2 trials showed that ABT-874 cleared symptoms of psoriasis by at least 75 percent in nine out of 10 patients in most dosing groups.

The test results followed 12 weeks of treatment, after which more than half of patients had 90 percent improvement in their skin, according to a company statement. ABT-874 targets two proteins linked to inflammation in psoriasis and other disorders in which the immune system attacks the patient’s own body. Abbott says it will begin phase 3 studies needed for approval by the Food and Drug Administration later this year.