Amgen Ends Psoriasis-Drug Partnership With AstraZeneca -- Update

By Josh Beckerman 

Amgen Inc. said it is no longer working with AstraZeneca PLC on the co-development of brodalumab, a treatment for conditions including psoriasis, due to safety concerns.

The biotechnology company said the decision was based on "events of suicidal ideation and behavior" that Amgen believes would lead to restrictive labeling.

"During our preparation process for regulatory submissions, we came to believe that labeling requirements likely would limit the appropriate patient population for brodalumab," Amgen said in a statement.

AstraZeneca said in a statement that it will "confirm its decision on the future development of brodalumab as soon as possible, based on further review of the data." The company noted the drug's favorable performance in Phase 3 studies and said it will "fully evaluate the data and assess all options."

In April 2012, Amgen and AstraZeneca formed a collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize five monoclonal antibodies from Amgen's portfolio.

Brodalumab, an IL-17 inhibitor, is in development as a treatment for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.

Amgen and AstraZeneca said in November that the drug met its primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The companies said at the time that the favorable results would form the basis of regulatory filings planned for 2015.

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