Results From the First and Largest Collaborative Study Confirm Role of Enbrel(R) in Psoriatic Arthritis

Maidenhead, England (ots/PRNewswire) -

- New Data Add to the Body of Evidence That Show That Enbrel
(Etanercept) Clears Skin and Can Sustain This Efficacy Over Time

New data presented today at the 'Gene to Clinic' meeting taking
place at the Royal College of Physicians in London, England,
reinforce Enbrel's ability to clear skin in patients with psoriatic
arthritis, an inflammatory and progressive disease associated with
psoriasis. Results from the pioneering PRESTA (Psoriasis Randomized
Etanercept STudy in Subjects with Psoriatic Arthritis) study showed
that at 24 weeks, two out of three patients with psoriatic arthritis
(70% taking 50mg Enbrel twice-weekly and 62% taking 50mg once-weekly)
showed a 75% improvement in the psoriasis area-and-severity index
(PASI 75)(1). PRESTA is the first and largest study of its kind where
both dermatologists and rheumatologists have come together to
investigate the positive effects of Enbrel in this specific patient
population.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/wyeth/36288/

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects both
the skin and joints, where the skin symptoms usually appear before
the joint symptoms. Despite the potentially serious impact of the
disease, it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis.

Prof Wolfram Sterry, PRESTA study investigator and Director of
the Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology at the
Charité Berlin, Germany, says: "Up to 40% of psoriasis patients will
go on to develop psoriatic arthritis and therefore dermatologists are
in an ideal position to screen for psoriatic arthritis and provide
early therapeutic intervention or referral in order to prevent
disease progression."

The PRESTA study results demonstrated that Enbrel 50mg
once-weekly or twice-weekly provides improvement of skin symptoms
which continue to improve over time. In particular:

- At only 12 weeks, over half (55%) of patients taking Enbrel 50mg
twice-weekly and more than one third (36%) of patients taking Enbrel
50mg once-weekly showed a 75% improvement in the psoriasis
area-and-severity index (PASI 75)(1)
- After 24 weeks, over two thirds (70%) of patients taking Enbrel (50mg
twice-weekly for 12 weeks, followed by 50mg once-weekly for 12 weeks)
showed a 75% improvement in the psoriasis area-and-severity index
(PASI 75), demonstrating that skin clearance continues to improve with
Enbrel, even after Enbrel's dose is reduced(1)
- Almost two thirds (62%) of patients treated throughout with 50mg
once-weekly also went on to achieve PASI 75 by week 24(1)
- In addition, approximately three out of four patients (72-77%) taking
Enbrel showed joint improvement, as measured by the Psoriatic Arthritis
Response Criteria (PsARC), at only 12-weeks and maintained this
improvement at 24-weeks (shown in both arms of the study)(1)

Previous research has shown that the skin symptoms in psoriasis
patients are associated with a low quality of life comparable to, or
even worse than those individuals with other chronic medical
disorders, including heart disease(2). Further results from the
PRESTA study presented today demonstrate that Enbrel not only clears
skin, but can also improve patients' quality of life(3).

Professor Sterry concluded: "The PRESTA study confirms that
treating psoriatic arthritis early and aggressively with Enbrel can
effectively clear skin, providing patients with meaningful
improvements to their daily lives and offering the hope of preventing
irreversible damage to joints."

Both Enbrel dose regimens were well tolerated up to 24 weeks with
no new safety signals noted.

Enbrel has a long-established safety profile with over 16 years
of proven clinical experience, and is currently the number one
prescribed biologic worldwide.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

PRESTA Study

This randomised, multicentre study enrolled patients with both
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis from 110 global sites. In the
double-blind period, patients received either Enbrel 50mg twice
weekly (BiW) or 50mg once-weekly (QW) for 12 weeks; in the subsequent
open-label period, patients received 50mg once weekly for 12 weeks.

Please click here for study results.

ABOUT ENBREL

Enbrel is a fully human soluble tumour necrosis factor (TNF)
receptor. Enbrel was first approved in 1998 for moderate to severe
rheumatoid arthritis and has since been administered to nearly
500,000 patients worldwide across indications.

Enbrel in the EU is approved for the following indications:

Rheumatoid arthritis

Enbrel in combination with methotrexate is indicated for the
treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adults
when the response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including
methotrexate (unless contraindicated), has been inadequate.

Enbrel can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to
methotrexate or when continued treatment with methotrexate is
inappropriate.

Enbrel is also indicated in the treatment of severe, active and
progressive rheumatoid arthritis in adults not previously treated
with methotrexate.

Enbrel, alone or in combination with methotrexate, has been shown
to reduce the rate of progression of joint damage as measured by
X-ray and to improve physical function.

Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
in children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 years who have had an
inadequate response to, or who have proved intolerant of,
methotrexate. Enbrel has not been studied in children aged less than
4 years.

Psoriatic arthritis

Treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults
when the response to previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drug
therapy has been inadequate. Enbrel has been shown to improve
physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis, and to reduce
the rate of progression of peripheral joint damage as measured by
X-ray in patients with polyarticular symmetrical subtypes of the
disease.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Treatment of adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis who
have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy.

Plaque psoriasis

Treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who
failed to respond to, or who have a contraindication to, or are
intolerant to other systemic therapy including cyclosporine,
methotrexate or PUVA

ABOUT WYETH:

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and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery,
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over-the-counter medications. It is also a global leader in vaccines,
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REFERENCES
(1) Poster P29 from the Gene to Clinic meeting, December 2008. Sterry. W.
et al. Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind Study to Evaluate the
Efficacy and Safety of Etanercept in Patients with Psoriasis and
Psoriatic Arthritis: The PRESTA Trial
(2) Richards HL et al. The contribution of perceptions of stigmatization
to disability in patients with psoriasis. J Psychosom Res.
2001;50:11-15.
(3) Poster P30 from the Gene to Clinic meeting, December 2008. Barker, J.
et all. Improvement in the Dermatology Life Quality Index for
Patients With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Treated with
Etanercept

ots Originaltext: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

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