Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a label update for Taltz (ixekizumab) injection 80 mg/mL to include data in psoriasis involving the genital area.1 Taltz is the first and only treatment approved by the FDA for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis that includes such data in its label.1 Taltz was first approved by the FDA in March 2016 for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.1 In December 2017, Taltz was also approved for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis.1
"Up to 63 percent of psoriasis patients will be impacted by psoriasis involving the genital area over the course of their disease," said Pete Salzmann, vice president, Lilly Immunology. "However, there remains a serious unmet need for patients seeking treatment options. We are proud of this important milestone for Taltz, and remain committed to pursuing research that may improve outcomes for people living with this challenging disease."
"It is common for patients with psoriasis to experience symptoms in the genital area at some point during the course of their disease," said Michael Siegel, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and clinical affairs, National Psoriasis Foundation. "This news is a significant step in providing patients with more options for treating their disease. We encourage patients to talk with their healthcare provider about their symptoms of psoriasis in the genital area."
The label update is based on positive results from the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in moderate-to-severe psoriasis involving the genital area.1 In the study, 149 patients with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, and who failed to respond to or were intolerant of at least one topical therapy for the treatment of psoriasis affecting the genital area, were treated with Taltz or placebo.1 Patients were required to have a minimum body surface area involvement of 1 percent, a static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA) score of ≥3 and a sPGA of genitalia score of ≥3.1
Taltz demonstrated a significant improvement compared to placebo at 12 weeks in the severity of psoriasis affecting the genital area, as measured by sPGA of genitalia score; overall psoriasis, as measured by sPGA score; genital itch, as measured by the Genital Psoriasis Symptoms Scale (GPSS) Itch numeric rating scale (NRS); and in the patient-perceived impact of psoriasis involving the genital area on frequency of sexual activity, as measured by Sexual Frequency Questionnaire (SFQ) Item 2 (In the past week how often did your psoriasis involving the genital area limit the frequency of your sexual activity?) score.1
sPGA of genitalia score of "0" (clear) or "1" (minimal): 73 percent of patients treated with Taltz compared to 8 percent for placebo1
Overall sPGA score of "0" (clear) or "1" (minimal): 73 percent of patients treated with Taltz compared to 3 percent for placebo1
GPSS Genital Itch (≥4 point improvement): 55 percent of patients treated with Taltz compared to 6 percent for placebo1
SFQ Item 2 score "0" (never) or "1" (rarely): 78 percent of patients treated with Taltz compared to 21 percent for placebo1
Taltz should not be used in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to ixekizumab or to any of the excipients.1 Taltz may increase the risk of infection.1 Other warnings and precautions for Taltz include pre-treatment evaluation for tuberculosis, hypersensitivity reactions, inflammatory bowel disease, and immunizations.1 The safety outcomes from this study were consistent with the overall safety profile of Taltz.1
"Psoriasis involving the genital area can significantly impact patients, yet it's not routinely examined by healthcare providers," said Caitriona Ryan, M.D., lead study investigator. "The results from this clinical trial may raise awareness around the topic among healthcare providers."
"The trial results found that the majority of patients treated with Taltz achieved clear or almost clear genital skin at week 12," said Jennifer Clay Cather, M.D., Modern R...
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