Value of PASI90 Versus Merit-Based Incentive Payment System Efficacy Measures.

Background: Achieving ≥90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90) is achievable with newer biologic therapies, such as ixekizumab. Standard of care payment systems such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) responder criteria could lead to under treatment and lower quality of life (QoL) outcomes compared with PASI90.

Objective: Show PASI90 is a higher standard than MIPS and is associated with greater improvements in QoL and other PRO outcomes.

Evaluation of Changes in Skin and Joint Outcomes and Associated Treatment Changes in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): Experience From the Corrona PsA/SpA Registry.

Objective: To characterize skin severity and joint activity outcomes and associated treatment changes in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) through 12 months of follow-up after enrollment in the Corrona Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondyloarthritis (PsA/SpA) Registry.

Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years of age with a diagnosis of PsA and a history of psoriasis between March 21, 2013, and September 30, 2016, were enrolled (n = 647). Demographics, clinical features, and treatment characteristics were collected and stratified by skin severity and joint activity.

Understanding the association between skin involvement and joint activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis: experience from the Corrona Registry.

Objective: To compare the characteristics of patients with psoriatic arthritis among patient groups stratified by degree of skin and joint involvement, and to evaluate the relationship between skin severity and joint activity.

Methods: Body surface area (BSA) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) at enrolment were analysed. Patient characteristics were stratified by skin severity and joint activity.

Treatment patterns among patients with psoriasis using a large national payer database in the United States: a retrospective study.

Aim: To characterize treatment patterns of psoriasis patients in a large US managed care database.

Materials And Methods: Adults with newly-diagnosed psoriasis were identified from July 3, 2006-August 31, 2014. Patients had continuous enrollment with medical and pharmacy benefits for ≥6 months prior to and ≥1 year following the index date.

Medication adherence and persistence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic literature review.

Purpose: Proper adherence and persistence to medications are crucial for better quality of life and improved outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis (PsO), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We systematically describe current adherence and persistence patterns for RA, PsO, and PsA, with a focus on biologics and identifying factors associated with adherence and persistence.

Patients And Methods: Using various databases, a systematic literature review of US-based studies published from 2000 to 2015 on medication adherence and persistence to biologics and associated factors was conducted among patients with RA, PsO, and PsA.

Treatment patterns, adherence, and persistence among psoriasis patients treated with biologics in a real-world setting, overall and by disease severity.

Purpose: Describe treatment patterns by disease severity among biologic-treated psoriasis patients.

Materials And Methods: We selected our study cohort in the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus adjudicated claims database linked to Electronic Health Record data from Modernizing Medicine Data Services. Patients were classified as having mild, moderate, or severe psoriasis based on a hierarchy of available severity measures.

Ixekizumab Pharmacokinetics, Anti-Drug Antibodies, and Efficacy through 60 Weeks of Treatment of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis.

Ixekizumab, a high-affinity monoclonal antibody that selectively targets IL-17A, is efficacious for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. We examined relationships between serum ixekizumab concentrations, treatment-emergent anti-drug antibodies (TE-ADAs), and efficacy during 60 weeks of treatment in a randomized, controlled, phase 3 study. Steady-state ixekizumab serum trough concentrations were rapidly achieved and associated with high clinical responses at week 12 with a starting dose of 160 mg followed by 80 mg every 2 weeks.

Healthcare resource utilization and costs among psoriasis patients treated with biologics, overall and by disease severity.

Aims: To describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs among biologic-treated psoriasis patients in the US, overall and by disease severity.

Materials And Methods: IQVIA PharMetrics Plus administrative claims data were linked with Modernizing Medicine Data Services Electronic Health Record data and used to select adult psoriasis patients between April 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014. Eligible patients were classified by disease severity (mild, moderate, severe) using a hierarchy of available clinical measures.

Response to Tetanus and Pneumococcal Vaccination Following Administration of Ixekizumab in Healthy Participants.

Background: Ixekizumab (IXE) is an interleukin (IL)-17A antagonist approved for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the immune response to tetanus and pneumococcal vaccines in healthy subjects administered IXE was noninferior to control.

Methods: In a randomized, open-label, parallel-group study, adult subjects received vaccinations alone (N = 42, control) or in combination with 160 mg IXE subcutaneously 2 weeks prior to vaccination and 80 mg IXE on the day of vaccination (N = 41, IXE).

Improvements in psoriasis within different body regions vary over time following treatment with ixekizumab.

Background: Ixekizumab is a high-affinity monoclonal antibody that selectively targets interleukin-17 A.

Objective: Examine the efficacy of ixekizumab in clearing psoriasis within different body regions.

Methods: Data from 3 placebo- (PBO) or PBO- and etanercept (ETN)-controlled trials were integrated.

Phase 3 Trials of Ixekizumab in Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis.

Background: Two phase 3 trials (UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3) showed that at 12 weeks of treatment, ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-17A, was superior to placebo and etanercept in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. We report the 60-week data from the UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3 trials, as well as 12-week and 60-week data from a third phase 3 trial, UNCOVER-1.

Methods: We randomly assigned 1296 patients in the UNCOVER-1 trial, 1224 patients in the UNCOVER-2 trial, and 1346 patients in the UNCOVER-3 trial to receive subcutaneous injections of placebo (placebo group), 80 mg of ixekizumab every 2 weeks after a starting dose of 160 mg (2-wk dosing group), or 80 mg of ixekizumab every 4 weeks after a starting dose of 160 mg (4-wk dosing group).

A cost savings approach to SPRED1 mutational analysis in individuals at risk for neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a clinically diagnosed autosomal dominant disorder requiring routine clinical management, particularly during the pediatric years. An overlapping disorder, Legius syndrome, at times is clinically indistinguishable from NF1 and results in a small percentage of individuals being mischaracterized. Distinguishing these two entities is increasingly important for prognosis, reproductive planning, and clinical management.

The SPRED1 Variants Repository for Legius Syndrome.

Legius syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by germline loss-of-function mutations in the sprouty-related, EVH1 domain containing 1 (SPRED1) gene. The phenotype of LS is multiple café au lait macules (CALM) with other commonly reported manifestations, including intertriginous freckling, lipomas, macrocephaly, and learning disabilities including ADHD and developmental delays. Since the earliest signs of LS and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndrome are pigmentary findings, the two are indistinguishable and individuals with LS may meet the National Institutes of Health diagnostic criteria for NF1 syndrome.

Fatty metastatic lesions in 2 patients with renal clear-cell carcinoma.

This is a case report of 2 patients with previously resected renal cell carcinoma who present with unusual fatty lesions that proved to be metastases.