Johnson & Johnson introduced an experimental drug called ustekinumab that is said to show better psoriasis treatment results than the Wyeth and Amgen drug Enbrel, an established drug which already holds 75% of the market by one account. The company said on Thursday its experimental psoriasis drug proved more effective.

The patients who took ustekinumab, apparently saw a 75% reduction in their psoriasis, a percentage significantly higher at both doses than the number of subjects getting the same level of response from Enbrel. Moreover the results from ustekinumab required only two injections, while Enbrel required 24 total injections over the same 12 weeks.

The new drug also succeded in reducing the severity of psoriasis by 90 percent or more, considered nearly complete clearance. Only 23 per cent of the Enbrel users got that result.

"We've never seen clearance along the lines of what we've been seeing with ustekinumab. This is pretty dramatic," said Dr. Alan Menter, a Baylor University dermatologist who helped lead the study.

Johnson & Johnson received a positive response from the FDA despite its having some warning labels attached. However the reviews for the drug were extended until December.

The drug company responsible for making the drug and who also sponsored the study is called Centocor.

Psoriasis is a disorder which affects the skin and joints. It commonly causes red patches on the surface of the skin, called psoriatic plaques, which are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production.

The results of this study were presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Paris.