Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced Monday that its oral treatment, icotrokinra, met the main goal in a mid-stage trial for ulcerative colitis, boosting JNJ stock by 1% in early trading.
The study evaluated icotrokinra, a targeted oral peptide that blocks the IL-23 receptor, in adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Results showed positive responses across all tested doses, with the drug also meeting secondary goals, including clinical remission, symptom reduction, and endoscopic improvement.
At Week 12, 63.5% of patients on the highest dose showed improvement, compared to 27% in the placebo group. Additionally, 30.2% of patients on the highest dose achieved clinical remission, versus 11.1% on placebo, according to JNJ.
The company also noted that icotrokinra was well tolerated, with similar side effect rates between the treatment and placebo groups. These results position JNJ's investigational drug as a potential new option for ulcerative colitis patients seeking effective oral treatment.
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