Lilly announces Taltz available in US to treat psoriasis

Eli Lilly and Company announced in a press release that Taltz injection 80 mg/mL for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis is now available by prescription order through specialty pharmacies in the United States.

Taltz (ixekizumab) was approved in March by the FDA for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systematic therapy or phototherapy. Ixekizumab is designed to specifically target interleukin-17A, according to the release.

Patients who have previous hypersensitivity reaction, including anaphylaxis, to ixekizumab or any of the excipients should not take ixekizumab, according to the release.

There were 87% to 90% of patients at week 12 treated with ixekizumab who experienced significant improvement in their psoriasis plaques in three pivotal studies, the release reported.

“With Taltz now available, physicians and patients have a new treatment option that may help patients experience virtually or completely clear skin,” Alex Azar, president of Lilly USA, LLC, stated in the release. “Lilly is committed to providing education and resources to help make Taltz accessible to people with moderate-to-server plaque psoriasis.”

Injection training, guidance on navigating insurance benefits, and working with a contracted network of specialty pharmacies to help fill ixekizumab prescriptions is being offered through the Taltz Together program. Patients can get more information on the program by calling 1-844-825-8966, according to the release.

“The availability of new treatments like Taltz is vitally important for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis,” Randy Beranek, president of the national Psoriasis Foundation, stated in the release. “We are happy to see more options available so patients can continue treating this very difficult disease.”

Physicians, pharmacists and other health care professionals with questions about Taltz are encouraged by Lilly to contact the Lilly Answers Center at 1-800-545-5979 or by visiting Lilly’s website.

Reference: www.lilly.com