Guselkumab

Guselkumab is a monoclonal antibody designed for the treatment of psoriasis.^[1]

By targeting the p19 subunit^[2] (which is not part of IL-12) guselkumab was designed to block interleukin-23 but not IL-12. Interleukin 23 is a cytokine that plays an important role in managing the immune system and autoimmune disease. This drug was developed by Janssen Global Services, LLC.

As of March 2014, the drug was in phase II clinical trials for plaque psoriasis. Phase II data released at the 2014 annual conference of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that up to 88% of patients treated with guselkumab achieved a Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score of cleared or minimal disease activity.^[3]

See also

• Ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting both IL-12 and IL-23 and used to treat plaque psoriasis, launched in the United States under the brand name Stelara
• Tildrakizumab, another experimental, IL-23-specific monoclonal antibody

References

1. ↑ Statement On A Nonproprietary Name Adopted By The USAN Council - Guselkumab, American Medical Association.
2. ↑ Oppmann B, Lesley R, Blom B, Timans JC, Xu Y, Hunte B, Vega F, Yu N, Wang J, Singh K, Zonin F, Vaisberg E, Churakova T, Liu M, Gorman D, Wagner J, Zurawski S, Liu Y, Abrams JS, Moore KW, Rennick D, de Waal-Malefyt R, Hannum C, Bazan JF, Kastelein RA (Jan 2001). "Novel p19 protein engages IL-12p40 to form a cytokine, IL-23, with biological activities similar as well as distinct from IL-12". Immunity. 13 (5): 715–25. doi:10.1016/S1074-7613(00)00070-4. PMID 11114383. 
3. ↑ http://www.medpagetoday.com/Dermatology/Psoriasis/44889