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Ixekizumab improved symptoms of psoriasis

The results of a double blind trial found that ixekizumab improved symptoms for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Ixekizumab (Eli Lilly), an anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody, was evaluated for its effectiveness against psoriasis in this 16-week, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study.

The trial randomly assigned 142 patients with psoriasis to either placebo (n=27) or to 10 mg, 25 mg, 75 mg, or 150 mg ixekizumab (n=115) at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks.

Researchers used the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) to assess the extent of each patient’s psoriasis. The trial’s primary goal was to reduce each patient’s PASI score by ≥75% at 12 weeks. Its secondary endpoint was to reduce PASI scores by ≥90% or by 100%. With the exception of those in the 10-mg ixekizumab group, all other patients in the groups receiving ≥25mg ixekizumab reduced their PASI score by >75%. By comparison, 7.7% of those receiving placebo achieved ≥75% reduction in PASI score.

The groups receiving 150 mg and 75 mg ixekizumab saw a 100% reduction in PASI score in 39.3% and 37.9% of patients, respectively, whereas none of those receiving placebo achieved a 100% reduction.

The investigators reported that 63% of both the ixekizumab and placebo groups experienced nonserious adverse events.

“ … these data suggest that inhibition of interleukin-17 may be an effective and targeted therapy for psoriasis,” researchers concluded. “Patients with chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with ixekizumab had significant improvement in clinical measures during the 12-week treatment period that were rapid and sustained through 20 weeks with continued treatment.”

Investigators recommended more studies of ixekizumab’s long-term safety and efficacy.

Disclosure: See the study for a full list of relevant disclosures.