Comparison of ixekizumab with etanercept or placebo in moderate-to-severe psoriasis: Subgroup analysis of Latin American patients in the phase 3 randomized UNCOVER-3 study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ixekizumab demonstrated greater efficacy than placebo and etanercept in UNCOVER-3. Subgroup analysis of Latin American patients was performed. We report 12-week and 60-week data.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis included 102 Latin American patients randomized to receive placebo (n=14), etanercept 50mg twice weekly (n=30), or ixekizumab 160-mg starting dose followed by 80mg every 2 weeks (Q2W; n=29) or every 4 weeks (Q4W; n=29). At week 12, patients maintaining efficacy response and adequate overall safety were assigned, at the discretion of the investigator, to long-term extension with ixekizumab Q4W.

RESULTS: At week 12, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 100 scores were 0%, 20.0% (p=0.075 vs placebo), 62.1% (p<0.001 vs placebo; p=0.001 vs etanercept), and 48.3% (p=0.002 vs placebo; p=0.023 vs etanercept) for placebo, etanercept, ixekizumab Q2W, and ixekizumab Q4W, respectively. Among patients who continued therapy up to week 60 (n=97), PASI 100 scores were 71.4%, 60.0%, 77.8%, and 57.7% for patients who received induction placebo, etanercept, ixekizumab Q2W, and ixekizumab Q4W, respectively (non-responder imputation). By week 60, ≥1 serious adverse event was experienced by 7.1% (n=1/14), 3.3% (n=1/30), 14.8% (n=4/27), and 0% (n=0/26) of patients who received induction placebo, etanercept, ixekizumab Q2W, and ixekizumab Q4W, respectively. There were no cases of active tuberculosis with ixekizumab treatment through 60 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: In Latin American patients, both ixekizumab dosing regimens demonstrated greater efficacy than etanercept for treating psoriasis over 12 weeks. The safety profile of ixekizumab through 60 weeks was well tolerated and consistent with the overall profile.