J&J's Stelara headed for Phase III in lupus

The Janssen Research & Development LLC unit of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said Stelara ustekinumab (CNTO 1275) met the primary endpoint of improving lupus disease activity in a Phase II trial to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the 102-patient, a significantly greater proportion of patients receiving Stelara achieved an SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response at week 24 vs. placebo (60% vs. 31%, p=0.0046).

Next year, the pharma plans to start Phase III testing of the human mAb inhibiting IL-12 and IL-23 to treat SLE...