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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. Clinical responses to ixekizumab were seen as early as week 1. Patients receiving ixekizumab also reported improvements in health-related quality of life, itching, and work productivity. Clinical responses to ixekizumab were sustained during additional 48 weeks of maintenance treatment. Ixekizumab was generally well tolerated and exhibited low immunogenicity in the UNCOVER trials during up to 60 weeks of therapy. Currently available data indicate that ixekizumab is an effective and generally well tolerated treatment option for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. It has the potential advantage of one maintenance dose for every 4 weeks.

1Introduction

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects more than 125 million people worldwide [1]. Plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris) is the most common type of psoriasis [2]. The clinical features of plaque psoriasis include red, sharply demarcated, raised, white or silvery dry plaques, often accompanied by pain, itching, and cracking of the skin [1, 2]. Psoriasis is also associated with comorbidities, such as psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, cardio-metabolic disorders, depression, and anxiety [1-3]. Thus, psoriasis leads to physical, psychological, and socioeconomic burden, with significant impairment of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) [1, 2].

Approximately 20% of patients with psoriasis suffer from a moderate to severe form of the disease [3]. Currently available treatments for these patients include phototherapy and systemic therapies [conventional immunosuppressants, an oral small molecule phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor (apremilast), and targeted biological therapies] [2, 4, 5]. Biologics, which act by blocking specific components of the immune system, are important treatment options for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. However, long-term use of biologics is associated with some safety concerns [4, 5] and treatment...

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