Alexandra B. Kimball, Thomas Luger, Alice Gottlieb, Luis Puig, Roland Kaufmann, Russel Burge, Chen-Yen Lin, Gil Yosipovitch
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-2801

Itching is a prevalent plaque psoriasis symptom. Ixekizumab, an IL-17A antagonist, has demonstrated rapid, significant improvements in itch severity over 12 weeks in Phase III psoriasis trials (UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2). We assessed the long-term (through 60 weeks) effect of ixekizumab maintenance therapy (80-mg ixekizumab every 4 weeks [IXEQ4W]) on itch severity, using the Itch Numeric Rating Scale, in psoriasis patients who received ixekizumab, placebo, or etanercept for 12 weeks in the Phase III UNCOVER-3 trial. After 12 weeks, patients either continued or switched to IXEQ4W. Mean improvements in itch severity achieved with 12 weeks of ixekizumab (–4.7 to –5.1) were maintained through 60 weeks with IXEQ4W (–4.9 to –5.0). Patients who initially received placebo or etanercept experienced rapid itch severity improvements after switching to ixekizumab at Week 12 (Week 12, placebo: –0.6; etanercept: –3.8; Week 60, placebo/IXEQ4W: –4.9; etanercept/IXEQ4W: –4.7). Ixekizumab maintenance therapy sustained improvements in itch severity through 60 weeks.