• Amgen Inc., of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Philadelphia, reported Phase III data showing that Enbrel significantly reduced the symptoms and signs of plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents. The trial showed that 57 percent of patients on Enbrel (etanercept) for 12 weeks achieved Psoriasis Area Severity Index 75 scores vs. 11 percent on placebo. Results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. An application for use of Enbrel in managing psoriasis in children and adolescents is under review by the European Medicines Authority.

• Cell Therapeutics Inc., of Seattle, said results of a Phase II study demonstrated that the addition of radioimmunotherapy to high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation produced a high rate (70 percent) of progression-free survival at two years without a significant increase in the toxicity of the HDC regimen. Radioimmunotherapy with Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan), which is approved for follicular, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients whose disease has relapsed following first-line rituximab (Rituxan, Genentech Inc. and Biogen Idec Inc.) therapy, allows high doses of lymphoma-targeted radiation with lower doses to normal tissues. Data were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

• CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Newtown, Pa., said results of a Phase II dose-comparison study designed to evaluate Oracea given once-daily vs. doxycycline 100 mg once-daily in patients with rosacea demonstrated that the higher, antimicrobial doxycycline dose does not provide a greater clinical benefit than the anti-inflammatory dose of 40 mg, controlled release. The higher dose, however, was associated with a significantly higher incidence of adverse events. Oracea is a delayed-release formulation of doxycycline 40 mg approved to treat the papules and pustules associated with rosacea. Results were presented at the Caribbean Dermatology Symposium.

• Genaera Corp., of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., began dosing subjects in a Phase I study of trodusquemine (MSI-1436) in overweight and obese Type II diabetics. That trial is expected to expand the safety database for the drug and establish its pharmacokinetics in a population of Type II diabetics who are poorly controlled on metformin. Secondary endpoints include short-term insulin/glucose control indices, glucose tolerance and evaluation of insulin sensitivity. The study is expected to conclude in the first half of this year. Trodusquemine is designed to work centrally and peripherally to regulate insulin and leptin receptor signaling by blocking the PTP-1B enzyme.

• HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Newton, Mass., said it started a Phase I trial of HQK-1001, an oral drug in development to treat the inherited blood disorders sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. The study will involve healthy volunteers, who will receive increasing doses of HQK-1001 to test safety and pharmacokinetics.

• Immunosyn Corp., of La Jolla, Calif., said it successfully completed the first phase of a proof-of-concept study of SF-1019 in diabetic ulcers. Data indicated that the drug promoted wound healing and appeared to induce growth factors, and the company reported that SF-1019 showed promise when delivered either systemically or topically. The drug is partnered with Argyll Biotechnologies LLC, also of La Jolla, which out-licensed rights to SF-1019 and is Immunosyn's largest shareholder.

• Immunotec Inc., of Montreal, completed a 66-patient randomized, double-blind trial testing IMN 1207 in cachexia in lung cancer patients, and said data showed that those treated with IMN 1207 demonstrated significant increases in body weight. During a six-month treatment period, patients received either casein or IMN 1207, a glutathione-enhancing cysteine-rich whey protein isolate. Results showed that patients in the casein group continued to lose weight, while patients treated with Immunotec's drug showed a significant body weight increase. Patients in the treatment group also showed an increase in strength and quality-of-life parameters. The company initiated a follow-up study to confirm those positive results.

• Karo Bio AB, of Stockholm, Sweden, reported data from a two-week, 24-patient study of eprotirome (KB2115) showing that the drug, designed to activate the thyroid hormone receptor, induced a significant lowering of blood cholesterol levels (up to 40 percent) without negative effects on the heart. Data were published in the Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences. Karo Bio is continuing its Phase IIb program with a 172-patient study testing eprotirome given concomitantly with statins. Data from that trial are expected in the third quarter.