An Efficacy and Safety Study of CNTO 1275 Compared to Etanercept in Patients With Plaque Psoriasis

This is a multicenter, randomized (study medication assigned by chance), active-controlled, parallel, 3-arm study. Patients will be randomly (allocation to treatments available by chance) assigned in 3:5:5 ratio to receive one of three treatments groups. The three treatment groups are: Group 1 - CNTO 1275 45 mg dosing at weeks 0 and 4, Group 2 - CNTO 1275 90 mg dosing at weeks 0 and 4, Group 3 - Etanercept 50 mg two times per week through week 12. The total duration for each participant will be up to 64 weeks (approximately 16 months). The active-controlled portion of the study is from Week 0 to Week 12 during which the efficacy and safety of etanercept and 2 dose levels of CNTO 1275 will be evaluated. Treatment after Week 12 is dependent on Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) response at Week 12 and initial treatment assignment. Patients will receive 2 subcutaneous injections of CNTO 1275 (either 45 or 90 mg doses) or twice weekly injections of etanercept during the first twelve weeks of the study. Patients may receive two additional doses of CNTO 1275 (either 45 or 90 mg doses) up to week 44.

Inclusion criteria

• Have had a diagnosis of plaque-type psoriasis at least 6 months prior to the study
• Have plaque-type psoriasis covering at least 10 percentage of total body surface area
• Have a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of 12 or greater and a Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) score of 3 or greater at the time of the first administration of study drug
• Must be suitable for phototherapy or systemic treatment for psoriasis
• Have failed to respond to or have condition which prevents use of cyclosporine, methotrexate (MTX) or psoralen plus ultraviolet light A (PUVA)

Exclusion criteria

• Currently have nonplaque forms of psoriasis
• Have current drug-induced psoriasis
• Have used any therapeutic agent targeted at reducing interleukin-12 (IL-12) or IL-23 (Interleukins are the substance produced by body in immunological disease like psoriasis)
• Have received phototherapy or any systemic medications/treatments that could affect psoriasis or PASI evaluation (including, but not limited to, oral or injectable corticosteroids, retinoids, 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 and analogues, psoralens, sulfasalazine, hydroxyurea, or fumaric acid derivatives) within 4 weeks of the first administration of study agent
• Have used a biologic within the previous 3 months