Extended dosing intervals of ixekizumab for psoriasis: A single-center, uncontrolled, prospective study

Efficacy and Safety Analysis in Chinese Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis from a Phase 3 Trial: Impact of Treatment Withdrawal and Retreatment of Ixekizumab

INTRODUCTION

In China, approximately 2.3 million people have psoriasis. Continuous treatment is recommended for moderate-to-severe psoriasis. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of continuous versus interrupted ixekizumab (IXE) treatment and retreatment with IXE after disease worsening in Chinese patients.

METHODS

In this Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients were randomized to IXE or placebo at Week 0. At Week 12, IXE responders (static Physician's Global Assessment [sPGA] score, 0 or 1 [0,1]) were re-randomized (2:1) to IXE (IXE/IXE, continuous treatment) or placebo (IXE/PBO, interrupted treatment). After re-randomization, treatment in IXE/PBO patients with disease worsening (relapse, sPGA ≥ 3) was switched to IXE every 4 weeks (IXE/PBO + IXEQ4W, retreatment). Efficacy was assessed by evaluating the response rates of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75/90/100, sPGA (0,1), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (0,1), mean PASI, and Itch Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores and improvements of special body areas. Safety was evaluated by assessing treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs.

RESULTS

At Week 12, 289 IXE responders were re-randomized to the IXE/IXE group (192 patients) and IXE/PBO group (97 patients). High rates of PASI 75 and sPGA (0, 1) responses were maintained in the IXE/IXE group until Week 60. At Week 60, 88 (90.7%) patients in the IXE/PBO group had disease relapse; the median time to relapse was approximately 20 weeks. After 24 weeks of retreatment, PASI 75 and sPGA (0, 1) were recaptured (97.2% and 74.6%, respectively, in the IXE/PBO + IXEQ4W group). AEs were comparable in patients who received continuous treatment and retreatment.

CONCLUSION

In Chinese patients who received continuous IXE treatment, high response rates were maintained through 60 weeks. Most patients had disease relapse after treatment withdrawal. After retreatment, most of these patients had regained and maintained response since Week 12.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03364309.

Identification of Inflammatory Endotypes by Clinical Characteristics and Nasal Secretion Biomarkers in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

INTRODUCTION

The emergency of biologics and surgical techniques targeting the specific inflammatory endotype in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) asks for efficient identification of patients with different endotypes. Although mucosal IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE have been used to define type 2 (T2) inflammation, the optimal one remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal anchor for T2 inflammation and identify clinical characteristics and nasal secretion biomarkers predicting different endotypes in CRSwNP.

METHODS

Six mediators in sinonasal tissue and 36 mediators in nasal secretion samples were detected by the Bio-Plex suspension array system. Mucosal IFN-γ and IL-17A levels were used to define the T1 and T3 endotype, respectively. The efficacy of mucosal IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE to define the T2 endotype was compared. The power of clinical characteristics and nasal secretion biomarkers to predict the T1, T2, and T3 endotype was analyzed.

RESULTS

Among mucosal IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE, IL-13 was the best one to coincide with the expression of other T2 biomarkers. A combination of atopy, facial pain symptom score, ethmoid/maxillary computed tomography score ratio, and blood eosinophil percentage had a moderate predictive performance for T2 endotype (area under the receiver operating curve [AUC] = 0.815), comparable to that of nasal secretion IL-5 (AUC = 0.819). For the T3 endotype, nasal secretion IL-1Rα identified it with an AUC value of 0.756. No efficient marker for the T1 endotype was found.

CONCLUSION

IL-13 is a primary anchor for the T2 endotype in CRSwNP. Clinical characteristics and nasal secretion biomarkers are helpful for identifying the T2 and T3 endotype of CRSwNP.

National consensus on biologic dose reduction in psoriasis: a modified eDelphi procedure

BACKGROUND

Dose reduction of biologics for psoriasis is applied in daily practice, although guidelines are lacking. Striving for clear criteria is important, as it leads to a consistent application of dose reduction.

OBJECTIVE

To achieve consensus on criteria for biologic dose reduction in psoriasis patients with stable and low disease activity.

METHODS

An online Delphi procedure (eDelphi) was conducted. Dutch dermatologists were invited to participate in a maximum of 3 voting rounds. Proposed statements were selected based on literature review and included criteria for the application of dose reduction and dosing schedules. Biologic dose reduction was defined as 'application of injection interval prolongation'. Proposed statements were rated using a 9-point Likert scale; consensus was reached when ≥70% of all voters rated 'agree' (7-9) and <15% rated 'disagree' (1-3).

RESULTS

A total of 27 dermatologists participated and reached a consensus on 15 recommendations over 2 voting rounds. Agreed statements included criteria for dose reduction eligibility, criteria for dose reduction (dis)continuation, and dosing schedules for adalimumab, etanercept, and ustekinumab. Based on the eDelphi outcomes, an algorithm fit for implementation in current practice was developed.

CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations of this national consensus process can guide clinicians, and consequently their patients, toward consistent application of biologic dose reduction.

Biologics for psoriasis patients under 18 years of age: Real-world evidence from the Chinese psoriasis real world evidence research group

Background

Treatment for pediatric psoriasis is challenging because of the lack of real-world evidence, especially for biological therapies.

Objectives

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of biologics in children with psoriasis based on real-world evidence.

Methods

Pediatric psoriasis patients aged &lt;18 years who were treated with biologics in our hospital (2020–2022) were prospectively analyzed. Patients treated with adalimumab, secukinumab, or ixekizumab were followed up for at least 16 weeks, and 22 of 38 patients completed the 52-week observation period. Dermatologist raters were blinded to ensure the reliability of the PASI, BSA, and PGA score assessments. PASI 75 or PGA 0/1 at week 12 represented an efficient indicator.

Results

Thirty-eight patients (20 males and 18 females; median age, 12.6 ± 4.1 years) were enrolled, and none were lost to follow-up. All participants were diagnosed with psoriasis, including plaque psoriasis (n = 36), nail psoriasis (n = 1), and pustular psoriasis (n = 1). Within 12 weeks, all patients achieved scores above PASI 75 and PGA 0/1. The average time to reach PASI 75 was 4.3 ± 2.0, 3.2 ± 1.8, and 2.4 ± 0.4 weeks in patients using adalimumab, secukinumab, and ixekizumab, respectively, and, 27.2% (3/11), 86.4% (19/22), and 75.0% (3/4) of these patients achieved PASI 100 at week 12, respectively. Moreover, 18 of 20 patients with plaque psoriasis maintained ≥PASI 75 after 52 weeks. The most commonly reported adverse effect was upper respiratory tract infection, and no severe adverse effects were reported.

Conclusions

Our real-world data demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of adalimumab, secukinumab, and ixekizumab in children with psoriasis.