title: Anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody ixekizumab in chronic plaque psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 17 helper T cells have been suggested to play a pathological role in psoriasis. They secrete several proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-17A (also known as interleukin-17). We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ixekizumab (LY2439821), a humanized anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody, for psoriasis treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 142 patients with chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to receive subcutaneous injections of 10, 25, 75, or 150 mg of ixekizumab or placebo at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with reduction in the psoriasis area-and-severity index (PASI) score by at least 75% at 12 weeks. Secondary end points included the proportion of patients with reduction in the PASI score by at least 90% or by 100%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 weeks, the percentage of patients with a reduction in the PASI score by at least 75% was significantly greater with ixekizumab (except with the lowest, 10-mg dose)--150 mg (82.1%), 75 mg (82.8%), and 25 mg (76.7%)--than with placebo (7.7%, P<0.001 for each comparison), as was the percentage of patients with a reduction in the PASI score by at least 90%: 150 mg (71.4%), 75 mg (58.6%), and 25 mg (50.0%) versus placebo (0%, P<0.001 for each comparison). Similarly, a 100% reduction in the PASI score was achieved in significantly more patients in the 150-mg group (39.3%) and the 75-mg group (37.9%) than in the placebo group (0%) (P<0.001 for both comparisons). Significant differences occurred at as early as 1 week and were sustained through 20 weeks. Adverse events occurred in 63% of patients in both the combined ixekizumab groups and in the placebo group. No serious adverse events or major cardiovascular events were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a humanized anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody, ixekizumab, improved the clinical symptoms of psoriasis. Further studies are needed to establish its long-term safety and efficacy in patients with psoriasis. (Funded by Eli Lilly; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01107457.).
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. leonardi@centralderm.com
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matheson
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zachariae
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Edson-Heredia
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Subhashis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D020381:Interleukin-17; C549079:ixekizumab