Ixekizumab Is an Effective Treatment for Psoriasis

This neutralizing antibody to IL-17A outperformed etanercept and placebo for rapidly improving psoriatic plaques.

T lymphocytes that produce interleukin-17A (IL-17A) are central to the development of psoriatic plaques. Ixekizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-17A. In two international, industry-funded, phase III, 12-week, randomized, controlled trials (UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3), researchers evaluated the efficacy and safety of two doses of ixekizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. A total of 1224 patients were enrolled in UNCOVER-2 and 1346 in UNCOVER-3. In both trials, patients received a 160-mg loading dose of ixekizumab followed by an 80-mg dose every 2 or 4 weeks, etanercept (50 mg twice weekly), or placebo. All agents were administered subcutaneously.

In both studies, as many as 84% of patients who received i…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)