Ixekizumab: A Review in Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Abstract

Published online: 30 January 2017 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017 Abstract Ixekizumab (Taltz®) is a subcutaneously administered, humanized anti-interleukin-17A monoclonal antibody indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy (USA and EU) or phototherapy (USA). In the phase 3 UNCOVER trials in this patient population, ixekizumab was superior to placebo or etanercept in terms of the proportion of patients achieving a ≥75% reduction from baseline in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and in those achieving a static Physician Global Assessment score of 0 or 1, after 12 weeks of induction treatment. Psoriasis is also associated with comorbidities, such as psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, cardio-metabolic disorders, depression, and anxiety [1-3]. [...]psoriasis leads to physical, psychological, and socioeconomic burden, with significant impairment of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) [1, 2]. [...]long-term use of biologics is associated with some safety concerns [4, 5] and treatment failure in up to 32% of patients because of 'biologic fatigue' [6]. [...]there is an unmet need for more effective and better tolerated biological treatment options for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. IL17A levels are elevated in psoriatic lesions; binding of IL17A to the IL-17 receptors on keratinocytes leads to the release of other proinflammatory mediators, which in turn recruit more Th17 cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and lymphoid cells [8]. [...]the IL-17A pathway is a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. [...]IL-17A antagonists may offer a superior tolerability profile because they...