FDA OKs new Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) treatment for psoriasis

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. –  People with the skin disorder psoriasis will have another treatment option after U.S. regulators approved a new drug from Johnson & Johnson.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Tremfya (trehm-FEYE-eh) Thursday for people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Johnson & Johnson said that in one patient study about seven in 10 patients getting Tremfya had clear or nearly clear skin after 24 weeks of treatment, compared with about four in 10 patients receiving rival AbbVie's Humira, the world's top selling drug.

Tremfya, which is injected every eight weeks, can cause infections and other serious side effects. It will cost $9,684 per dose, or about $58,100 per year, without insurance.