24 Feb Guselkumab Potentially Increases Treatment Choices For Psoriasis
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prof. Kristian Reich
Prof. Dr. med. Kristian Reich
Dermatologie, Allergologie
Psoriasis- und Neurodermitis-Trainer
Hamburg
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Ustekinumab is an antibody against the p40 molecule shared by IL-12 and IL-23. The antibody shows a favorable benfit-risk profile in the treatment of psoriasis. IL-23 is regarded a key driver in psoriasis pathology. It is speculated that antibodies against the IL-23-specific subunit p19 may produce even higher levels of clinical response than ustekinumab or the anti-TNF antagonist adalimumab. Guselkumab is the first IL-23p19 antibody to publish phase III data in psoriasis.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis with guselkumab induced a rapid onset of response and high levels of clear or almost clear skin. The percentage of patients achieving PASI90 (approximately 75%) and PASI100 (approximately 40%) responses at week 24 were significantly higher than those seen with adalimumab therapy.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Guselkumab injections were given at baseline, week 4 and every 8 weeks thereafter in the voyage phase III trials. The convenient injection scheme and the observed high response levels indicate that IL-23p19 inhibitors such as guselkumab have the potential to broaden the therapeutic armamentarium of psoriasis. Patients may benefit from more individualized dosing schemes based on their individual clinical response.
Disclosures: Prof. Reich has received honoraria as speaker and/or participant in advisory boards from Janssen, the manufacturer of guselkumab and participated in clinical trials with guselkumab.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Efficacy and safety of guselkumab, an anti-interleukin-23 monoclonal antibody, compared with adalimumab for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis with randomized withdrawal and retreatment: Results from the phase III, double-blind, placebo- and active comparator–controlled VOYAGE 2 trial
Reich, Kristian et al.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , Volume 76 , Issue 3 , 418 – 431
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