Sun Pharmaceutical Industries today announced that Almirall has received the European Commission (EC) approval for ILUMETRI (tildrakizumab) for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. As indicated by Almirall, roll out of ILUMETRI in Europe will start in the next few weeks. In July 2016, Sun Pharma out-licensed tildrakizumab to Almirall, for the development and commercialization of the product for psoriasis in Europe.

Tildrakizumab is a humanized high-affinity anti-IL-23p19 monoclonal antibody. Due to its specific mechanism of action, it selectively blocks interleukin-23 (IL-23), an upstream inflammatory mediator cytokine, and acts by modifying the pathogenesis of the disease with limited impact on the rest of the immune system.

Its approval in Europe is based on the positive results from reSURFACE 1 and 2 phase-3 clinical trials, presented for the first time in October 2016 at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) Congress in Vienna (Austria). Both pivotal phase-3 clinical trials, which included over 1,800 patients from more than 200 clinical sites worldwide, showed ILUMETRI has a high level of safety and efficacy.

According to both studies data, an average of 63% of patients achieved 75% of skin clearance (Psoriasis Area Sensitivity Index or PASI 75) by week 12 and an average of 78% at week 28. Moreover, an average of 59% of patients achieved PASI 90 and an average of 30% reached PASI 100 at week 28. Over a year, more than 92% of patients who responded to ILUMETRI within 28 weeks maintained a PASI 75 response.

Shares of the company gained Rs 8.65, or 1.35%, to settle at Rs 648.15. The total volume of shares traded was 243,000 at the BSE (Tuesday).