Celgene Corp. has for several years been talking up Otezla (apremilast) as a primary catalyst in its ambitions to build and maintain commercial heft outside the hematology and oncology arena. Positive Phase III data reported Oct. 8 in patients with scalp psoriasis could position Otezla for a broader label and a broader market opportunity in dermatology.
The small molecule phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor was first approved for psoriatic arthritis by the US FDA in early 2014 and added moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to its label a few...