Plaque Psoriasis: Evaulating Il-23p19 Inhibitors

Blocking IL-23p19 with an investigational compound BI 655066 got better results than ustekinumab (Stelara/Janssen) in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Reporting at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA, K. Alexander Papp, MD, of Probity Clinical Research in Waterloo, Ontario and colleagues elsewhere offered findings of a study involving 166 patients. They were randomly assigned to received either BI 6655066 or ustekinumab. Dosing regimens varied by group. The skin lesions were assessed using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) at baseline and at week 12. Pain was assessed by a visual analog scale.

The primary endpoint of the study was a PASI 90 response at week 12. Depending on how much BI 655066 patients received the percentages of those achieving the study endpoint varied from 32.6% (18 mg single dose at week 0) to 81% (18 mg dose at weeks 0 , 4, and 16).

Those who got ustekinumab did not do as well. The percentage of those who achieved the study endpoint was 40.0%

The compound is made by Boehringer Ingelheim. The results of the study were reported in Canada earlier this year.

The new drug has a similar safety profile to ustekinumab