Preliminary results of an ongoing Phase II study indicate that the psoriasis treatment Amevive (alefacept) provides clinical improvement for patients with active psoriatic arthritis.

In the study, 54 per cent of patients who received Amevive for 12 weeks achieved an ACR 20 response, or at least a 20 per cent improvement in the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, at 24 weeks. The ACR score is a standard measure developed by the American College of Rheumatology to rate psoriatic arthritis disease improvement. Results of the study were presented by Biogen Idec at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

"We've seen Amevive provide long lasting results to some of our psoriasis patients," Dr. Alan Menter of Baylor University Medical Centre, Dallas, Texas said adding, "Now we have evidence that Amevive may offer significant relief to patients with psoriatic arthritis - a condition that's even more debilitating than psoriasis alone. This will certainly give us another option in treating these patients who have both skin and joint involvement."

"There are many people who have been disabled by their psoriatic arthritis and are frustrated by a lack of treatment choices," said Gail Zimmerman, president and CEO of the Psoriasis Foundation. "We are hopeful that this medicine may offer a new option for people coping with this disease," Zimmerman added.

According to the Psoriasis Foundation, psoriatic arthritis afflicts 10 to 30 per cent of people with psoriasis, causing stiffness, pain, swelling and reduced range of motion in the joints. An immune system disease, psoriatic arthritis can be as severe for some patients as rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, it leads to joint destruction that is irreversible.