Australian experts have welcomed publication of the first study showing the long-term benefits of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor therapy on skin clearance and quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
Published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, the results of the five-year SCULPTURE extension study of Novartis’ PBS-listed COSENTYX (secukinumab) were described as “impressive” by associate professor Peter Foley, director of research at the Skin and Cancer Foundation and the head of dermatology research at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne.
The study included moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients treated with COSENTYX 300mg every four weeks from year one to the end of year five.
According to the study authors, “Before commencing secukinumab treatment, patients had on average one third of their body covered with psoriasis, an average PASI of 23.5 and their skin had a very large effect on their quality of life (mean DLQI of 13.1).
“Despite such severe disease, psoriasis was effectively and consistently controlled through 5 years, regardless of the efficacy response criteria and type of analysis undertaken (with or without imputation). On average, the extent and severity of psoriasis was improved by approximately 90% through 5 years.”
“These findings are impressive,” said associate Professor Foley. “Patients with psoriasis require a long-term solution. This study demonstrates that treatment with secukinumab is not only capable of achieving clear skin, but also addresses the impact of psoriasis on quality of life over a sustained period.”
COSENTYX has been developed to address the key cytokine involved in the development of psoriasis, as well as psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
"These findings are meaningful for dermatologists as they show the high efficacy and safety of secukinumab are maintained over a five year treatment period,” said associate professor Foley. “This data will also be of interest for specialists treating psoriatic arthritis, given that up to 30 per cent of patients with psoriasis may also suffer this inflammatory joint disease,”
COSENTYX is the only IL-17A inhibitor approved for use in Australia to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, as well as ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.