Long-term efficacy and safety results from an open-label phase III study (UNCOVER-J) in Japanese plaque psoriasis patients: impact of treatment withdrawal and retreatment of ixekizumab

the Japanese Ixekizumab Study Group

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21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Long-term management of moderate-to-severe psoriasis is usually discussed in terms of continuous administration; however, there are many situations in clinical practice where treatment may be withdrawn with subsequent retreatment. Objective: To assess the clinical course after ixekizumab treatment withdrawal and retreatment, as well as the effectiveness of ixekizumab retreatment, in Japanese patients with plaque psoriasis. Methods: This single-arm, open-label study (UNCOVER-J; NCT01624233) comprised 78 patients with plaque psoriasis. After ixekizumab treatment (160-mg loading dose, 80 mg every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks, and then 80 mg every 4 weeks (IXE Q4W) until Week 52), 70 patients achieved a Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)75 response at Week 52. These 70 patients withdrew from ixekizumab treatment from Weeks 52 to 100. Patients who relapsed (PASI ≤50) during the Treatment Withdrawal Period were retreated with IXE Q4W for 192 weeks. Results: At Weeks 52, 76 and 100, PASI75 response rates were 100%, 26% and 7%; PASI90 response rates were 87%, 11% and 3%; and PASI100 response rates were 53%, 0% and 0%. After treatment withdrawal, 87% of patients relapsed; median time to relapse was 143 days. After 12 weeks of retreatment with IXE Q4W, 83% of relapsed patients achieved PASI75, 68% achieved PASI90 and 25% achieved PASI100; improvements were maintained up to 120 weeks of retreatment. Treatment-emergent adverse events and serious adverse events were reported in 56% and 4% of patients during the Treatment Withdrawal Period, and in 88% and 14% of patients during the Retreatment Period. Conclusion: In patients withdrawn from ixekizumab after achieving PASI75, approximately half relapsed within 5 months of withdrawal; however, most patients recaptured response within 12 weeks, and response was maintained for up to 120 weeks of retreatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)568-576
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
Volume33
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019 Mar

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

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