A new drug from psoriasis has proven effective in clinical trials in humans
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Leading pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly completed the third phase of clinical trials of a new drug against psoriasis. At this stage, experts use the working name of the drug - ikeksikuzumab. In the course of the research, the experts managed to prove that the drug helps to prevent the formation of plaques better than the placebo used in the experiment.
In addition, experts compared the efficacy and safety of different dosages, both the new drug and placebo. The duration of the experimental treatment was 3 months and 1.3 years. Also in the course of the experiment, scientists compared the action of Ixeclizumab with etanercept (an immunomodulator used to treat psoriasis).
The specialists assessed the decrease of psoriatic lesions by special parameters.
Patients with severe and moderate forms of the disease took part in the experimental treatment.
After the end of the first experimental stage, after three months, the researchers concluded that treatment with a new drug allowed to reduce skin lesions by 75% in approximately 85% of patients (the drug was given at 80 mg every two or four weeks). In approximately 35% of volunteers, psoriatic lesions completely disappeared after a full course of treatment.
In 5% of patients, after complete treatment with etanercept and placebo, complete skin cleansing was noted.
On the background of treatment with ikexikuzumab, side reactions from the upper respiratory tract (inflammation of the nose and throat), headaches, and inflammation at the injection site were quite common.
At this stage, the pharmaceutical company plans to register a new drug and at the beginning of next year the specialists will send the results of their studies and an application for registration of Ixeykizumab to the regulatory bodies.
The experimental drug iksekizumab appeared in the spring of 2012. At that time, the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced the development of a new medication that helps cope with psoriasis.
Psoriasis, also known as scaly lichen, is an inflammatory disease of the skin. The disease occurs equally often both among women and men.
The disease is characterized by the appearance on the skin of uniform rashes in the form of plaques, whose diameter can reach 3 cm, rashes of pink and red, covered with loose whitish scales.
Rashes can be combined into plaques having different outlines and sizes, such plaques can occupy a rather large area of the skin. Usually, plaques are formed on the limbs, in the area of folds (especially the ulnar and knee joints, the scalp, the trunk are especially prone to rashes).
There are several types of the disease: arthropic, exudative, pustular, ordinary psoriasis and psoriatic erythroderma.
Treatment of psoriasis, as a rule, is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process on the skin. The purpose of the drugs is taking into account the stage, type, prevalence of rashes, concomitant diseases, the age of the patient.
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