Protagonist Therapeutics reports ‘positive’ results from FRONTIER 1 Phase 2b

Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX) announced positive topline results from its collaboration with Janssen Biotech, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), in the FRONTIER 1 Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating the oral Interleukin-23 receptor antagonist peptide JNJ-2113 in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Data from the 255-patient study showed that JNJ-2113 achieved the study’s primary efficacy endpoint, with a statistically significant greater proportion of patients who received JNJ-2113 achieving PASI-75 responses compared to placebo at Week 16 in all five treatment groups. A clear dose response was observed across an eight-fold dose range. Treatment was well tolerated, with no meaningful difference in frequency of adverse events across treatment groups versus placebo. Data will be presented from various pre-clinical and clinical studies on JNJ-2113 at medical conferences beginning in the second quarter of 2023.