Achievement of the National Psoriasis Foundation treatment targets with ixekizumab: Pooled analyses from 4 clinical studies.

Background: The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) published treatment targets for US patients with plaque psoriasis. However, data are lacking on how well existing therapies help achieve these goals.

Objective: To examine the ability of an interleukin 17 inhibitor, ixekizumab, in achieving these treatment targets.

Methods: Post hoc analysis was performed on pooled data from 4 phase III clinical trials assessing ixekizumab for plaque psoriasis: the UNCOVER-1, -2, and -3 trials and the IXORA-S trial. Treatment response was evaluated using the NPF-defined acceptable response (affected body surface area [BSA] of 3% or less or BSA improvement of 75% or higher at 12 weeks of treatment) and target response (BSA of 1% or less at 12 weeks and every 6 months thereafter).

Results: In the UNCOVER trials (n = 2701), acceptable and target response rates at week 12 were 73.9% and 51.8% with ixekizumab 80 mg every 2 weeks, 35.7% and 14.9% with etanercept 50 mg, and 3.0% and 0.6% with placebo, respectively. In the IXORA-S trial (n = 302), acceptable and target response rates at week 12 were significantly higher with ixekizumab every 2 weeks versus ustekinumab (acceptable response 68.4% vs 38.6%, P < .0001; target response 50.7% vs 24.1%, P < .0001).

Limitations: Data were from controlled studies and may not reflect real-world practice.

Conclusion: The majority of patients treated with ixekizumab in 4 phase III clinical trials achieved NPF, patient-centered treatment targets.