Korean J Dermatol.  2020 Jul;58(6):389-396.

Efficacy and Safety of Ixekizumab for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis in Korea

• Won SH
• Shin K
• Kim HS
• Ko HC
• Kim MB
• Kim BS

Abstract

Background
Ixekizumab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the IL-17A cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-17 receptor. It has emerged as an effective treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. However, to date, there are no real-world data for the use of ixekizumab in the treatment of psoriasis in Korean patients.
Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ixekizumab in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis in Korean patients.
Methods
This was a retrospective single-center study. Thirty psoriasis patients who were treated with ixekizumab were analyzed. All patients’ medical records, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, body surface area (BSA), Physicians’ Global Assessment (PGA), and adverse events were investigated.
Results
A significant reduction in mean (±standard deviation) baseline PASI score (14.1±2.6) was detected at 4 weeks of ixekizumab therapy (3.8±2.7, p＜0.001), with a further improvement at weeks 12 and 24 (0.9±0.7 and 0.5±0.5, respectively) (p＜0.001). Our analysis showed that 100%, 87.5%, and 50% of patients achieved PASI 75, 90, and 100 responses, respectively, after 48 weeks of therapy. However, nine patients (30%) experienced a mild adverse event such as injection site reaction, urticaria, upper respiratory tract infection, and stomatitis. No serious adverse events were observed.
Conclusion
This study provides evidence for the use of ixekizumab in real-world clinical practice and confirm that it is effective and safe in treating Korean patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Keyword

Korea; Psoriasis; Safety; Therapeutics