Anacor’s Topical Drug Found Effective in Phase IIa Psoriasis Trial

Anacor Pharmaceuticals has announced positive results from a Phase IIa clinical trial of AN2728, an investigational topical anti-inflammatory drug, in patients with psoriasis. The study met its primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints.

In 69% of patients, the area treated with AN2728 scored better at the end of therapy than the area treated with the vehicle ointment, compared with six percent of patients in whom the vehicle-treated areas were superior. These results were statistically significant (p<0.001). No drug-related safety issues were reported.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an ointment containing a 5% concentration of AN2728 with patient self-application. In this trial, 35 patients treated one of their areas of psoriasis with AN2728 ointment, and a matching area on the opposite side with vehicle alone, twice a day for four weeks.

AN2728 is a novel boron-containing small molecule that inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, IL-12, and IL-23, known mediators of the inflammation associated with psoriasis.

Karl Beutner, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Anacor, said: “The results of this study suggest that AN2728 can effectively treat psoriasis in a clinical setting. In addition, plaques treated with AN2728 continued to improve over the course of the 28 days of therapy, suggesting longer-term treatment may have an even greater effect.”