New Treatment for Plaque Psoriasis Approved

The FDA has approved Eli Lilly and Company’s ixekizumab (Taltz) as a treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Taltz works by binding to the interleukin 17A protein in the body, which is responsible for causing inflammation.

“Today’s approval provides patients suffering from plaque psoriasis with another important treatment option to help relieve the skin irritation and discomfort from the condition,” said Julie Beitz, director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a press release.

Taltz is administered to patients in the form of an injection. It is designed to work for systemic therapy, phototherapy, or both.

The product’s safety and efficacy was evaluated in 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trials consisting of more than 3800 patients who were candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy.

In the trials, Taltz showed greater clinical response compared with the placebo. Skin became clear or almost clear based on the extent, nature and severity of psoriatic changes in the intervention group.

The most common adverse effects associated with Taltz are upper respiratory tract infection, fungal infection, and injection site reactions.

Serious allergic reactions and worsening inflammatory bowel disease have been observed in some patients who have used Taltz.