BACKGROUND: Ixekizumab has demonstrated improvement in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis by selectively targeting interleukin-17A, which is a proinflammatory cytokine that is important in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: To report 4-year efficacy and safety results from the open-label extension (OLE) of this phase 2 trial.

METHODS: Analysis was by last observation carried forward. Patients received ixekizumab, 120 mg, and then 80 mg subcutaneously once every 4 weeks.

RESULTS: Of the patients who completed the randomized placebo-controlled trial, 93% entered the OLE. A 75% reduction in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index score was reported in 82% of patients at week 208 of the OLE. A static Physician's Global Assessment score of 0 or 1 was reported in 64% of patients, and a score of 0 was reported in 45% at week 208. Patients' Dermatology Life Quality Index and Itch Visual Analog Scale scores decreased when compared with baseline. Improvements were observed in other efficacy and health outcome measures. Serious adverse events were observed in 16.7% of patients, and 87% had 1 or more treatment-emergent adverse events. Three patients had serious infections. One patient reported 2 major cardiovascular events.

LIMITATIONS: The study was unblinded and lacked a placebo or active comparator.

CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy was shown to be maintained for up to 4 years of ixekizumab treatment.