For patients with psoriasis, an approved ixekizumab (IXE) dose over five years offers sustained efficacy and consistent safety, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Andrew Blauvelt, M.D., from the Oregon Medical Research Center in Portland, and colleagues report on the efficacy and safety of the approved IXE dose over five years. A total of 1,346 patients with psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous injections of placebo, etanercept 50 mg twice weekly, or IXE 80 mg every two or every four weeks after an initial IXE dose of 160 mg in a 1:2:2:2 ratio. Patients entered the long-term extension period at week 12, with dosing of IXE every four weeks, which could escalate to every two weeks after week 60.

The researchers found that ≥75 percent, ≥90 percent, or 100 percent improvement from baseline in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was achieved by 78.8, 67.1, and 46.2 percent of patients receiving the approved dose of IXE every two weeks/every four weeks, respectively, at week 264. Overall, 69.2 and 45.3 percent achieved a static Physician's Global Assessment score of 0/1 and 0 responses, respectively. The most observed treatment-emergent adverse event was infections (72.7 percent of patients).

Several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and Company, which manufactures ixekizumab and funded the study.

Abstract/Full Text