China approves J&J psoriasis pill Icotyde, says drugmaker

(This Aug 27 story has been republished, with no changes to text.)

SHANGHAI, Aug 27 (Reuters) – China’s drug regulator has approved Johnson & Johnson’s oral pill for psoriasis, ​the company said on Thursday, intensifying competition in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market with rivals including Bristol Myers Squibb and AbbVie.

Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes itchy, scaly, and inflamed patches of skin, affects more than 8.4 million patients in China, according to J&J. Other treatments include its own Tremfya, Bristol Myers’ Sotyktu and AbbVie’s Skyrizi.

Wall ​Street analysts have said J&J’s drug, Icotyde, has “blockbuster potential” as a safe and effective oral medication and that the once-daily medication could capture significant market share from injectables, such as Skyrizi and ​Tremfya.

It was approved in China for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, J&J said in a statement. Asked about availability, pricing and sales expectations for the local market, a spokesperson referred Reuters to the statement.

Other drugmakers including China’s Innocare Pharma and Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical are also developing experimental oral treatments in a global market largely dominated by injectables. 

(Reporting by Andrew Silver in ShanghaiEditing by Tomasz Janowski and Louise Heavens)