Remicade approved in Canada for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Remicade was developed by Johnson & Johnson unit Centocor but is distributed in Canada by Schering-Plough’s Canadian subsidiary.

Research has shown that the majority of patients treated with Remicade achieved a 75% improvement or more in the psoriasis area and severity index, which measures the severity of psoriasis disease symptoms and impact on quality of life. An improvement of 50% is a clinically significant endpoint in the assessment of psoriasis.

Meanwhile, other research has shown that 64% of psoriatic arthritis patients treated with Remicade had achieved at least a 75% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) compared to 2% of patients receiving placebo.

Health Canada’s approval of Remicade for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are the eight and ninth indications received by this biologic for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, a group of related diseases in which the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy tissues.