title: Efficacy of Secukinumab for Moderate-to-Severe Head and Neck Psoriasis Over 52 Weeks: Pooled Analysis of Four Phase 3 Studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis affecting the head and neck can be difficult to treat, and the presence of extensive and highly visible lesions may result in substantial psychosocial burdens. Secukinumab, a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets interleukin-17A, provides rapid and sustained clearance of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of secukinumab on moderate-to-severe psoriasis affecting the head and neck. The safety and overall efficacy of secukinumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis will be described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were pooled from four phase 3 studies. To be included in the head and neck analysis, patients were required to have Baseline head and neck Psoriasis Severity Area Index (PASI) scores ≥12 and psoriasis covering ≥10% of the head and neck. Secukinumab (300 or 150 mg) was administered at Baseline, Weeks 1, 2 and 3, and then every 4 weeks from Week 4 to 48.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Secukinumab demonstrated high efficacy on the head and neck and the whole body. At Week 52, head and neck PASI 90/100 subscore responses were achieved by 76.0%/68.7% of patients receiving secukinumab 300 mg, respectively, and by 61.4%/53.1% of patients receiving secukinumab 150 mg, respectively. At Week 52, whole body composite PASI 90/100 responses were achieved by 68.1%/40.8% of patients receiving secukinumab 300 mg, respectively, and by 47.6%/24.3% of patients receiving secukinumab 150 mg, respectively. Secukinumab also improved Dermatology Life Quality Index scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secukinumab provided robust and sustained efficacy for head and neck, and whole body psoriasis, over 52 weeks, with a favorable safety profile.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers, NCT01365455, NCT01358578, NCT01555125, and NCT01636687.
authors: Physicians Skin Care PLLC, Louisville, KY, USA. wedoderm@yahoo.com.|Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. wedoderm@yahoo.com.
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: Kircik
authors: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Fowler
authors: Gwinnett Clinical Research Center, Snellville, GA, USA.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Weiss
authors: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA.
authors: Xiangyi
authors: X
authors: Meng
authors: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Guana
authors: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA.
authors: Judit
authors: J
authors: Nyirady
keywords: Head and neck psoriasis; Moderate-to-severe psoriasis; Phase 3; Plaque psoriasis; Pooled analysis; Secukinumab