Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. was to announce today that itspsoriasis drug showed the same efficacy in a pilot study as aplacebo.

Patients given AG-85, a rationally designed topical treatment,showed no significant adverse effects. But while patientstreated with 0.1 percent AG-85 in a delivery vehicle showedimprovement, patients who were treated with the vehicle aloneshowed similar improvement. The vehicle contains propyleneglycol and ethanol.

The San Diego company plans to conduct a second study usingcream formulations with higher concentrations of AG-85.

AG-85 is designed to halt the abnormal proliferation of skincells that characterizes psoriasis by inactivating the enzymethymidylate synthase, which is responsible for the rapidproliferation of cells. TS is a building block necessary for thereplication of DNA.

Agouron shares (NASDAQ:AGPH) rose 75 cents to $14.50 onWednesday. -- KB

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